Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity to contribute and the team from the Health Information and Quality Authority for appearing before the joint committee and producing such a comprehensive report. To echo the sentiments of previous speakers, one almost experiences a sense of déjà vuwhen reading the report because much of it repeats what we have heard previously. Unfortunately, it is difficult to have any confidence that the recommendations made in the report will ever be implemented, although we could all be pleasantly surprised.

On the role of the Health Service Executive's internal national incident management team, why did this entity not take any action? It was fully aware of developments, had expressed a degree of concern and examined details of infant deaths in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, in 2012? Why was no action taken? Is this unit or however it describes itself fit for purpose? There are definitely question marks hanging over it.

I have been raising the issue of perinatal mortality statistics for some time and note Senator Colm Burke did likewise in recent days. The figures appear to be entirely unreliable and inaccurate. The fact that reporting is voluntary means that clinicians and other hospital staff are not under any obligation to report infant mortality. We often hear that Ireland has one of the best maternity services in the world. I find this difficult to believe when it is so patently obvious that the statistics are not accurate because certain baby deaths are not reported and there is no legal obligation to provide such information. Should criminal sanctions be introduced for individuals and hospitals which do not report infant deaths?

What are the delegates' views on the possibility of introducing legislation on open disclosure? I understand a scheme of open disclosure has been piloted in the Health Service Executive. Has HIQA, through its regulatory and monitoring functions, noted any sign of success where this practice has been piloted? It certainly works in the United States and other countries and it would result in a much more transparent and accountable system here, one in which families would never again have to endure what families endured in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, which beggared belief.

I echo Senator Colm Burke's question regarding who at a national level in the HSE is accountable, or should be held accountable. Who is responsible? We hear mention of regional, local and national levels, but somebody somewhere is responsible at all these levels. The question is: who is responsible? Is it possible for people to see accountability for the litany of negligence and cover-ups?