Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority published its report of the investigation into the quality, safety and governance of the care provided by Tallaght hospital for patients who require acute admissions. The investigation followed the death of a patient, Mr. Thomas Walsh from Kilnamanagh in Tallaght, who died at the hospital in March 2011 while in a corridor awaiting a bed. I offer my deepest sympathy to the families involved. I know the loved ones in this case will find the publication of the report traumatic.

Patients in all of our acute hospitals need the assurance that this matter is being addressed in an effective manner, lessons have been learned and quality assurance systems are being implemented across the hospital system. At the heart of the HIQA investigation are very serious matters about patient safety, how hospital services should be managed and provided and the manner in which we ensure our acute hospital system, including Tallaght Hospital, is safely and properly managed.

Many changes have already taken place in Tallaght hospital. The practice of leaving patients waiting for admission on trolleys in a corridor adjacent to the emergency department was clinically unsafe and completely unacceptable and has been stopped. The Health Information and Quality Authority wrote to the Minister for Health last November arising from its concerns about the deficits in governance and management at the hospital. As a result, a new interim board chaired by Sir Keith Pearson was appointed last December and a new chief executive officer is in place who is building a new management team, including clinical leadership.

The Minister will study the report with great interest and is determined its recommendations will be implemented as a matter of urgency. As I stated, many changes are already under way in Tallaght hospital and I understand this is acknowledged in the HIQA report. The staff of the hospital have an important role to play in responding to the challenges ahead and restoring and nurturing the hospital to achieve its potential. I ask the local community to support them and the hospital as they face the challenges ahead.

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