Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I agree with everything Deputy Reilly said. I live in Drogheda and know hundreds, if not thousands, of the people concerned. More than 1,500 people work in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital; I probably know most of them and certainly know their families. They, too, feel deep concern and distress that patients who came into the hospital were failed over the years by Michael Neary, that Tania McCabe died in childbirth, that there were the symphisiotomy and X-Ray issues, and that Michael Shine worked there. Some of these events occurred when the Medical Missionaries of Mary were in charge of the hospital; others occurred under the HSE. Many honourable and decent people have worked with both the nuns and the HSE but this issue has never been resolved.

To our great regret, the Lourdes Hospital still makes the headlines in appalling incidences such as the recent one involving Melissa Redmond. I have a constituency member who in August 2008 went through the very same situation, being told after a scan that her baby was dead. Arrangements were made for a D and C but she insisted on a second opinion and the baby was found to be alive. At that stage everything was all right but other events happened later and, unfortunately, the baby was not born alive. Another similar instance arose at least a year earlier. There was an issue about scanning in the hospital long before this latest case was brought to public attention. As Deputy Reilly mentioned, we did not know about it and the lady thought her case was unique.

The lack of transparency and accountability under the present system is totally unacceptable and immoral. There is no standard other than, "If you find out at the end of the day then we'll talk about it, then we'll have the inquiry, then we'll try and do something about it". However, unless there is a patient safety authority to deal with the issue immediately and at all stages, an authority to which people are accountable, which acts for and on behalf of patients, there will not be the health services we all want.

Another issue is at stake here, that of transparency and accountability, of freedom of information. More than six months ago I submitted a freedom of information request to the HSE in regard to an issue. At this stage it has gone to the Information Commissioner because I received no acknowledgment, letters or response - no information of any kind. The Minister, Deputy Harney, presides over an abysmal service that is not accountable, hides its errors and only acts when it is dragged out into the light of day in disgraceful circumstances, as happened in this case.

I put it to the Minister it is time for change and for her to have a hands-on approach for the period left to her in Government. I brought to her attention a report she has had since last November regarding the death of Peter McKenna at Leas Cross nursing home. This inquiry was set up by the Minister set up and run by the HSE, using taxpayers' money, but it refuses to publish the report unless the family signs off on its acceptance of what the report contains and gives a promise to stay dumb and silent as to its content for ever and a day. That is not good enough. I have asked the Minister about this privately a number of times. She has told me and can announce tonight that she will put that report into the light of day in this House so we can see exactly what went on in that case. This inquiry was paid for by the Minister on behalf of the Government and the taxpayers of this country.

It is time for change but we are getting more of the same, which is unacceptable. The country is up in arms because fine and decent people are being put through appalling traumas because of the lack of determination from the Minister and her Department to make the HSE ultimately accountable for its errors.

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