Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Everyone wants full confidence in our health system, particularly women who have just discovered they are pregnant; it is both an emotional time and a vulnerable time when they place themselves completely under the expertise of those in the health service. It is vital they enjoy full confidence in that time.

For a woman to be told she has miscarried, or that her baby has died in the womb, is a dreadful experience. When I head the case of Melissa Redmond, I am sure many women asked themselves if, when they decided to have a surgical procedure, it had happened to them. We cannot have a health system that allows such questions to prevail and it is important that we move to reassure women.

In that regard, I welcome the review that has been announced by the Minister, particularly that it will be carried out within six months and that its report will be published. I also welcome some of the measures that have been put in place to bring about a situation where there will be a standard protocol in all obstetric units, particularly that the Chief Medical Officer has written to all obstetric units advising them to ensure the decision to use drugs or a surgical intervention in these circumstances must be approved by a consultant obstetrician. This is critical, that the right people are involved in making these decisions on matters that are critical. The fact that a clinical programme for obstetric care has been established by the HSE national director of quality and clinical care is welcome, as is the fact that where women are concerned about their care, they have access to the necessary information, support and reassurance.

The Minister mentioned that there were 300 calls to the helpline but we will probably never know how many women have been affected because there will be those who do not phone and women who will never know if a misdiagnosis was made. This is sad and is why it is so important that we move to reassure them.

I compliment the Minister for the measures that have been introduced, particularly in the area of patient safety and the fact that the Department of Education and Skills is currently working on proposals for licensing legislation designed to improve patient safety by ensuring that health care providers do not operate below core standards which are applied consistently. That is vital. The legislation she mentioned that will be introduced toward the end of the year and implemented early next year is an essential step forward and legislation of this type is the direction to go.

The Minister is also considering a national framework for clinical effectiveness and I encourage her to proceed with this so we have an effective means to establish and implement best practice in all areas of healthcare. People should be confident no matter if they are visiting a hospital in Mayo or in Dublin. This Minister has done a huge amount and she has told us in her speech what she has done about cancer. In my constituency I know a lot about this, that we are giving people the best possible treatment in the best possible location, with the same standard throughout the country for private or public patients.

An audit of hospital equipment should be carried out. In some hospitals, many machines are close to the end of their lifespan and some machines are obsolete but remain in use. People would be reassured by an audit being carried out in all hospitals to ensure equipment is safe and fit for purpose.

I look forward to the review and welcome the measures that have been put in place to reassure women. When the review is complete and we have the report, we will be in a position to have a standard system throughout the State and I look forward to that in the interests of all women.

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