Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 84: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when private health facilities will be subject to quality regulation and inspection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26313/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In January 2007, as part of the Government's commitment to ensuring patient safety and quality in our health service, I established a Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance to develop clear and practical recommendations to ensure that quality and safety of care for patients is paramount within the health care system. The Commission's Report - Building a Culture of Patient Safety- was published in August 2008. The Commission recommended that there should be a mandatory licensing system in Ireland to cover both public and private health care providers. It further recommended that the licensing system should commence with application to the acute hospitals and other facilities based on analysis of potential risk to patient safety and that this list should include facilities where the following treatments are provided:

medical treatment under anaesthesia or sedation

dental treatment under general anaesthesia

obstetric services

cosmetic surgery

other techniques/technologies such as laser and intense pulse light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, private dialysis, In Vitro Fertilisation and endoscopies and any other to be prescribed by the Minister for Health and Children.

The Government recently accepted the Commission's report and approved the commencement of work on the drawing up of detailed proposals for legislation to give effect to its central recommendation on the licensing of both public and private health care providers. This legislation will be complex and it is anticipated that the Bill will be published in 2011. The Government also supported the establishment of a Steering Group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Children, to drive the implementation of all the report's recommendations. This Steering Group has now been established. Its first meeting took place on 4 June and it has begun its work on an overall implementation plan to be completed within 18 months of establishment.

From 1 July, the Health Information and Quality Authority will be responsible for the registration and inspection of all residential care services for older people. This means that for the first time, HSE operated centres and private nursing homes will all be subject to independent registration and inspection. This is a significant step forward in the protection of the rights of older people living in residential care settings across the country.