Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment to "establish an independent patient advocacy service", clarifies that the Government considers "Open Disclosure as an essential component of patient safety" and refers to "the recommendations of the Madden Commission on Patient Safety". The Minister may have seen the reports about a whistleblower in Limerick who has made serious allegations about superbug infections that have caused deaths, but without this being reflected on death certificates. The whistleblower in question, who has spoken to Deputy Niall Collins, alerted HIQA about this matter as long ago as 2014. Unfortunately, she feels she has been isolated, bullied and harassed by hospital management since these issues were raised and these serious allegations were made. If patients have died as a result of infections and this information has been withheld from the coroner, there needs to be an independent investigation. Will the Minister indicate to me when the patient advocacy service will be established? Can he confirm that the whistleblower's allegations will be independently investigated and that the whistleblower will get the supports required under the relevant legislation in this area?

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