Written answers

Wednesday, 10 May 2006

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Inquiry

9:00 pm

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 8: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the recommendations of the Neary Report into procedures at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda will be implemented; the actions being taken to ensure speedy implementation of these recommendations; and if anyone will be held accountable for foot-dragging the implementation of the recommendations. [17511/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Report of the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry was published on 28th February last. Since the publication of the report, I have met with many of the key stakeholders including Patient Focus, the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Medical Council, and the management and medical board of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. I have listened carefully to the views of these bodies on the recommendations in the report.

The Report of the Inquiry highlighted the urgent need for change and reform in our hospitals and particularly in the area of clinical governance. The recommendations in the report underline the importance of the approach being taken by my Department in a number of areas: the preparation of the new Medical Practitioners Bill which I intend, subject to Government approval, to bring to the House later this year; the new contract for hospital consultants, which is urgently needed for the recruitment of many more consultants. The report will help to inform the continued approach of my Department to these very important issues.

The Inquiry also made a series of recommendations of an operational and service nature, the implementation of which is a matter for the HSE. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a detailed reply issued to the Deputy on the implementation of these elements of the report.

One of the key recommendations in the Report relates to the recording of data on sentinel events. In this regard, a new National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre in Cork University Hospital will be up and running in the Autumn of this year, with annual funding of €630,000. Every time a mother gives birth in this country, the important interventions, the good outcomes and the complications will be recorded and analysed at the centre.

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