Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Dr. Herity for coming in to speak with us today. The British Cardiovascular Intervention Society, BCIS, recommends that 100 to 150 cases should be seen per year. Perhaps Dr. Herity, in his professional capacity, could explain to the committee the basis for that figure. I would imagine, as a health care professional myself, that it is related to throughput of patients and maintaining skill levels. I also ask him to explain what the BCIS is and the relevance of the guidance that comes from that body. I ask him to outline how guidelines from certain bodies are fed down as best practice to clinicians. In the case of psychiatry, orthopaedics and so forth, guidance comes a particular body, is fed down and clinicians take that guidance on board. Clinicians do not just make up their own way of doing things as they go along.

I ask Dr. Herity to expand on his own background and experience. Questions have already been posed as to where he worked previously but I am interested in his professional experience and why he would be considered an expert in this field. From the data already supplied, I can see clearly that he is an expert in the field but I ask him to expand on that a little.

Does Dr. Herity believe that he undertook an independent clinical review? Does he still consider that to be the case? Does he feel, despite all that has been said, that he acted independently, in his professional capacity and that he was in no way pushed or shoved in any particular direction by anybody?

I understand what Deputy Cullinane is saying but invasive cardiology is a major specialty and it should, one assumes, be carried out in a centre of excellence. My understanding of the report is that standard, scheduled, elective procedures should be done between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and that emergency procedures should be sent to Cork, which has the facilities and expertise to deal with the complexities that might arise with emergency cases. Does Dr. Herity have any data on patient outcomes in centres of excellence as opposed to other centres?

Was Dr. Herity happy with the resources given to him to prepare his report? On reflection, given all that has happened and leaving politics out of it, does he still stand by his report from a professional perspective?