Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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585. To ask the Minister for Health further to the response to Parliamentary Question No. 736 of 22 November 2022, if clarification and advice will be provided in relation to a case where a complaint has been made (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60412/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Health, I acknowledge the trauma and distress caused to those families who, having experienced the tragedy of losing a beloved child, have then had the difficult experience of learning that organs have been retained without consultation or for an extended period of time. Such incidents are clearly unacceptable and add to the distress and grief of families.

The Department of Health recognises the need to introduce safeguards to protect the integrity of the human body before and after death, and the Human Tissue (Transplant, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill is a legislative priority for this Government. The Bill is a composite piece of legislation that will introduce a statutory framework across the areas of organ donation and transplantation, post-mortem practice and procedures in hospital settings, anatomical examination and public display of bodies after death.

The overarching aim of the Bill is to further embed in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive matters. The Bill received Cabinet approval for publication on 29 November 2022 and is expected to be published on the Oireachtas website shortly.  

I know that the HSE is also committed to ensuring post-mortem services comply with best practice across all hospitals and is progressing the eight recommendations identified in an audit report on the post-mortem process published earlier this year.

Actions taken so far include:

- The Chief Clinical Officer has established a Post-Mortem Examination Services Group to review and update the 2012 Standards. This Group is due to complete its work by the end of the year;

- The National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) has accelerated a review of the provision of perinatal pathology, and the HSE is currently developing a National Perinatal Pathology Practice Framework Document to support services;

- The HSE is continuing to invest in perinatal pathology services with the aim of ensuring that all hospitals will have access to a regional service either as part of their Hospital Group or a network of Hospital Groups; and

- HSE National Acute Operations has engaged with local hospital management to ensure that existing guidelines are followed.

While it would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases, I can confirm that the correspondence raised by the Deputy has been received by my Department and I have instructed my officials to respond directly on the matters raised. I also note that a formal complaint has now been lodged with the hospital, and the HSE will respond accordingly.    

The individuals concerned might also wish to avail of the Patient Advocacy Service. This service is aimed at supporting patients who wish to make a complaint about care received in a public hospital. The service offers a confidential helpline with experienced advocates on-hand to provide information and support to patients who want to make a formal complaint to the HSE about the care they experienced. The Patient Advocacy Service has a team of patient advocacy officers, advocacy team leads and a service manager providing information and support to patients across Ireland by phone, email and through online information and in person. Further information on the service can be found by ringing 0818 – 293 003 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday or by visiting www.patientadvocacyservice.ie.