David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the issue Deputy Wallace brought up in respect of the health information Bill, the Minister will draw up regulations for the list of serious reportable events as part of that Bill. That is another day's work for the other committee, possibly.

It is not just the HSE we are talking about here; it is the local general practitioner and other health service professionals who might be involved. It is wider than just the HSE. There are an awful lot of very good people working in the HSE. Individually, one or two of them might make the type of mistakes we are discussing. The whole thrust of this Bill is to protect, encourage and support them in disclosing those mistakes and apologising, where appropriate. That is where we are going. If it does not work, we can change it. If we can change the whole culture that Deputy O'Callaghan outlined so well, then that is what we should aim to do. We should aim to change the culture, get away from the blame game and get away from a situation in which people cannot sleep at night because they made mistakes, are worried sick about their patients and are not in a position to own up because they are afraid of the consequences. The patient in such cases may need information and gets angrier and angrier because something has gone wrong. We want to move away from all that. We want to reach a position whereby a person can make an open disclosure, the patient gets all the information - if the mistake is quite serious, the relationship might not be the same and might fracture - but, in any event, the patient will have the information he or she requires and will have an apology if that is appropriate and is accepted. It may not be accepted. We also want this culture to feed back to the next patient and the patient after that. We want this practice to feed back right through the system. I say to colleagues that it is worthwhile being courageous and trying to make this work and supporting it to make it work. I do not think we are making a mistake. If it does not work after a period, it can be revisited - and the Minister for Health is determined and has committed to do that - but let us give it a chance, be optimistic about it, support and encourage it and be positive towards it. If we can do that and if it works, it is a win-win for everyone. If it does not work, we can change it. However, it is worth having a go. Let us be courageous and positive. Come on, Deputy Wallace.