Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The report was only published in the past 48 hours. It contains 16 recommendations and my understanding is they are being implemented. Tragically, four people have passed away since the review began. I do not know the circumstances of each individual case. Therefore, in the circumstances we should be careful about what we say in apportioning blame. Families who still have questions to ask and need answers need to receive the full co-operation of the hospital and the HSE. The review was triggered by complaints which led to concerns about the quality of care patients were receiving in the hospital. As a result, all of the scans and workload linked with one consultant doctor were re-examined, from which we have learned lessons which raise serious questions which need responses.

I do not have the guidelines on the workload of radiologists in front of me, but I expect that there would not be a problem with making them available. It is the job of the HSE and hospital management to make sure they have teams available that can work in a way that is consistent with medical guidelines. If there are a family or an individual to whom the Deputy is referring with particular concerns, I do not have their details, but if the Deputy makes them available, I will certainly ensure the Minister's office is made aware of them. We are trying to ensure the response will be patient-centred, that lessons will be learned, that systems will be put in place on the back of the mistakes made to make sure they will not happen again and that if families continue to have concerns or questions to which they need answers, the hospital and the HSE will provide them. People should not have to go to court to have basic questions answered about patient care and patient safety in the hospital.

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