Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the couple of minutes that I have, I would like to say how shocking it is that this situation has arisen again in the hospital services. We are aware that this issue was investigated previously and reported on through public inquiries. It must be a truly shocking situation for the families and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.

Management did not rate the incident as serious, but did express concern about the adverse publicity for the hospital if the situation came to public attention, according to an email sent by senior pathology staff in Cork, and as reported by RTÉ. This says it all.

Then we see the HSE's excuse for everything now. The hospital group said that the delays were due to the challenges in sourcing appropriate external expertise during the pandemic, and more recently the cyberattack on the HSE. It now expects the review to be finalised in early October or November. It is just shocking that at this stage this is still being trotted out as an excuse. It is amazing that after all that has gone on in the recent past, this would still be allowed to happen in the health services.

It shows a lack of management rather than management in the health services. How do we know that this is the only hospital in the State where this has happened? This must be the burning question today for every parent who has lost a baby in maternity wards in the State. I have contacted management at the Saolta University Health Care Group, which covers Letterkenny, Sligo and Galway hospitals, and covers my constituency, to see if they can categorically say that this situation does not exist there, and that they have checked. They have replied that they are fully compliant with HSE's Standards and Recommended Practices for Post Mortem Examination Services 2012. I am sure that Cork University Hospital would have given the same reply six months before this broke in relation to that hospital. We need more reassurance than this. I am glad to hear that the Minister will be asking all of the hospitals. All parents need to be reassured now.

I also find it amazing that these issues seem to arise in relation to women's healthcare in Ireland. Why have we never had a scandal in relation to prostate cancer in our health services? Why do we never have a scandal around testicular cancer? That question has to be part of any investigation and that question must be answered. Perhaps it is an indication of where the systemic problem is.

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