Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputies Twomey and McManus for bringing this issue into the Dáil. We receive many lectures about patient safety being the No. 1 issue. As somebody from County Monaghan, I agree that patient safety is, and should be, the No. 1 priority. However, when one considers Leas Cross and the case of Mr. Pat Joe Walsh, one wonders where is the systematic failure. As Deputy McManus spoke about some of the cases, I could not help thinking back to a short time after I entered this House when, on routine work, I met a young girl in Kingscourt whose sister was in need of urgent surgery. She had been put through the ropes and received all sorts of promises, but nothing happened. I went to the then Minister for Health, Deputy Howlin, told him the story and within days the matter had been dealt with. That was at a time when there was no money in the State, when money and all sorts of items were scarce. The Government has said there is no need to collect any more stamp duty because there is too much money. However, the families of Mr. Walsh and many others have to grieve. I again sympathise with them.

Mr. Walsh's family was not aware that he was being moved from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. He was moved solely because there was pressure on that hospital and the bed was needed. He went to Monaghan General Hospital with a bleeding ulcer and we know the result. There were difficulties with the amount of information that went with him from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Although I do not have time to examine the entire report, it makes interesting reading. It states:

The inquiry has revealed systematic evidence of serious process failure [the words in which it is expressed are wonderful] at almost all levels of activity apart from the nursing care. This process failure resulted in an inability to achieve transfer of the patient. For example the on-call consultant in Cavan hospital was working under a policy that effectively precluded him from undertaking major GI surgical procedures.

The inquiry also reported "continued failure on the part of management over a sustained period of time to address the factors resulting in the failure of Mr. Walsh's hospital transfer". It cited "lack of engagement between management and clinicians" or consultants, recommended "major reassessment of management structures" and said "prime responsibility for this development lies with hospital management at both local and regional level".

Who is in charge of the health service? In Cavan-Monaghan we know there has been management failure for years. This issue has been in crisis in the north east. Surgeons have had to go to the courts to solve their problems, yet management is allowed to stay there. Who is responsible and who will take control? Last Thursday evening we were told that all the interest is in safety and the only way to ensure safety is to close down issues and ensure proper care is available. This report, like many others, has made it clear that management is a problem. We are told money is not the problem. Yet in the review done by Mr. Robinson of the then health board, he stated that because of the increased numbers in the NEHB region, we were short €130 million three years ago and 1,500 personnel to bring us into parity with other areas. I ask the Minister to take responsibility. We do not want any more waffle or extraordinary experts. We want ordinary consultants and people who have a clear record of doing good work, saving lives and creating safe conditions. We want to see them given the opportunity to work — then people such as Mr. Pat Joe Walsh will not die.

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