John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 249: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to a previous parliamentary question, if an independent inquiry rather than an in-house HSE inquiry will be conducted into the treatment of a patient at a hospital (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the inquiry will also investigate the reason the hours of work were cut in respect of the whistleblower; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26857/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have asked the Inspector of Mental Health Services and the HSE to examine the issues raised and to report to me as soon as possible. I will inform you of the outcome.

The Health Act 2004 as amended by Health Act 2007 provides for the making of protected disclosures by health service employees. The purpose of the amendment is to facilitate employees to disclose matters of concern to an authorised person and to provide statutory protection against penalisation in their employment and against civil liability. This applies to all employees of the HSE, agencies funded by the HSE and bodies established under the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961. The authorised person in the HSE can be contacted at: HSE Authorised Person, PO Box 11571, Dublin 2; telephone number 01-6626984.