Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of overall care in the private hospital sector. It is interesting that in the UK, a person was convicted in the past few weeks with regard to carrying out unnecessary operations. It has been established that unnecessary mastectomies were carried out and that over 750 patients must now be compensated. This issue concerns accountability in the health service. While we have accountability in the HSE and I fully accept that every medical and nursing professional in the Irish health system, regardless of whether he or she works in the voluntary or private sector, works extremely hard and is extremely dedicated and committed, there is a need to make sure we have adequate supervisory capacity regarding procedures carried out to ensure that what occurred in the UK does not occur in any of our medical facilities here. Could we have a debate on this matter to see whether we have adequate supervisory mechanisms? While they exist in the public health system, I am not sure about accountability in the private system. I am not saying that there is an issue in any of our private hospitals. I have no doubt whatsoever that there is no such issue but it is important that we learn from the lesson in the UK to make sure it never arises here and that we have the procedures in place. Could this issue be brought to the Minister's attention and included in a debate in the near future?