Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1226. To ask the Minister for Health if she is confident in the quality and safety of the services provided to the general public at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48276/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent authority established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. HIQA operates under the Health Act 2007, which sets out the functions which the Authority is to carry out. Section 8(1)(c) of the Act confers HIQA with statutory responsibility for monitoring the quality and safety of healthcare.

The Act provides HIQA with the power to set standards for the healthcare services delivered by the HSE, and then to undertake monitoring programmes to assess compliance with these standards. HIQA typically undertakes both announced and unannounced inspection of healthcare facilities in order to monitor compliance with the standards.

Under the 2023 Patient Safety Act, HIQA’s remit has been expanded into private health services and hospitals.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda was last inspected in April 2024 and the inspection report was submitted to the Minister later that year. The report found that three of the four standards inspected were partially compliant while one standard was substantially complaint. Compliance Plans have been prepared by the Hospital relating to the standards which were assessed to be Partially Compliant. The Plans, which outline the actions being put in place to address these findings, have been submitted to HIQA and are included in the inspection report.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that all doctors currently employed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, are fully registered, up-to-date with their professional requirements, and compliant with standards set by the Irish Medical Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48277/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1228. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has received complaints concerning the professional conduct or service delivery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in the past five years; and if so, the number of complaints, their nature, and the status of ongoing reviews or investigations. [48278/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to improving patient services and enhancing patient-centred care.

Complaints regarding the professional conduct of regulated health professionals are the responsibility of the regulator with statutory responsibility for the regulation of that profession. My Department routinely receives correspondence from individuals who wish to make a complaint about a practitioner. In these instances, the individuals are referred to the relevant regulator, which has competence in the investigation of complaints.

Under Part 9 of the Health Act 2004 an individual has the right to complain about any action of the HSE or a service provider that they believe was not fair or had an adverse effect on them. The HSE has appointed designated Complaints Officers to ensure the effective management of complaints throughout their relevant areas of responsibility. Further information is available at www.hse.ie/yoursay or via telephone on LoCall number: 1890 424 555.

Correspondence received by my Department which may amount to a complaint is generally referred to the HSE and then forwarded to the relevant hospital, in this case Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.