Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What we need to discuss today is why the HSE and the Department of Health have not acted on recommendations made by regulatory bodies such as HIQA.

The tragic death of a baby in Cavan General Hospital raises further concerns about maternity services but I do not want to make any judgment about this tragedy because I do not know what happened. I extend my sympathy to the parents of the child, the family and others who have suffered such dreadful loss. This news comes on the back of last week's publication of the HIQA report on the safety of services in the Midland Regional Hospital. I ask the Taoiseach to listen to this quotation from the report: "HIQA found that the hospital was not governed, resourced or equipped to provide 24-hour, 7-day acute surgery, accident and emergency and maternity services". The national incident management team has also said that it is aware of other "numerous sad and serious cases at all HSE sites". HIQA goes on to make the point that if the findings of previous HIQA recommendations had been implemented the risks to patients would have been vastly reduced. This is not the first time that HIQA has made this point. It made the point directly with the HSE and with the Department of Health.

I have raised this matter many times with the Taoiseach in this Chamber and I have given him a letter from HIQA enumerating its concerns. The charge from HIQA and the NIMT could not be more serious. The harsh reality is that these recommendations are being continuously ignored and have been ignored for a long time by the HSE and the Department of Health. That is the nub of this problem.

Does the Taoiseach accept that the HSE is obliged to take prompt action to implement recommendations made by regulatory bodies such as HIQA? If so, why did it not do this? Does he accept also that this is the explicit responsibility of the Department of Health and the Minister for Health? Can he explain why the HSE, the Department of Health and the Minister failed to act on these recommendations? There is bound to be an explanation. Could the Dáil and the public be given it?

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