James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to ensure that a review is conducted of communication within hospitals, between hospitals and with the Health Service Executive to ensure effective communications, policies and procedures are in place to provide an efficient and coordinated response to the patient when a serious incident arises, as recommended by the Health Information and Quality Authority report into the misdiagnosis of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13685/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to ensure that formal communications processes and procedures are put in place within hospitals in order that in the event of an incident there is an immediate and appropriate response to the patient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13686/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

On the 4th March, I asked the Board of the Health Services Executive to immediately adopt an interim serious incident management protocol which would incorporate key commitments to patients. I also asked the Board to engage closely with this issue through its Risk Management Committee until it is satisfied that serious incidents of this nature are being managed to the required standard and to designate one person at national level to ensure that any future reviews are conducted in accordance with the protocol.

At its meeting on the 13th of March the Board adopted an interim Policy and Procedures for Serious Incident Management which had been developed by their management in conjunction with their Risk Committee. The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE has appointed a senior official to take responsibility at national level for the immediate implementation of this Policy and Procedures for Serious Incident Management. He will be reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer in relation to this matter and in respect of all existing reviews/investigations into serious incidents.