Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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93. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the report by the review team into the disposal of perinatal organs at Cork University Maternity Hospital will be furnished to the families affected as soon as possible and without further delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26862/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I would once again like to express my sympathy to the families in Cork who, having experienced the tragedy of losing a beloved child, then had the difficult experience of learning that the organs of their child were disposed of without their consent.

My Department is advised that the HSE, South/South West Hospital Group, Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital have apologised to the bereaved families and very much regret the incident.

I and the HSE are committed to ensuring that there is learning across the health service to prevent such events happening again. The HSE advise that the Systems Analysis Review being undertaken by the South/South West Hospital Group is still under way and we will act on any recommendations. The Review Team has been engaging with the families affected.

Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital identified 18 families that were affected by the incident. The Department of Health was informed that open disclosure occurred with the parents, and, in line with the HSE’s Incident Management Framework, the families have been encouraged to participate in the ongoing review process to ensure that their experience is incorporated so that there is learning and improvement from this incident.

This incident was originally advised to my Department via the Patient Safety Communications Protocol on 12th May 2020. Since this time, following requests from my Department, 16 updates have been received from the HSE with the most recent update provided on 16th May 2022.

The HSE advise that the Review Team are currently engaging legal opinion on the draft report before sending to participants in accordance with factual accuracy checking and fair procedures. Once this process is complete the final draft will be shared with the families for input on factual accuracy checking.

The HSE advise that communication was issued to the families on 16th May advising of a delay to the anticipated timeframe for sharing the final draft report of mid-May.

My Department is continuing to engage with the HSE in relation to progress on this matter.