Medical Negligence Patient Safety (HIE) Open Disclosure
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE PATIENT SAFETY (HIE) OPEN DISCLOSURE
HSE West and North West have confirmed that letters have been sent to about 800 expectant mothers informing them of external reviews taking place into the delivery of nine babies in PUH. The HSE Regional Clinical Director of HSE West and North West said the HSE wanted to be open and transparent with the women regarding reviews at the hospital.
All of the families would be involved in the reviews and would receive copies of them when completed and the HSE was committed to doing “anything we can do to make the service as safe as possible going forward for women attending”. The Regional Clinical Director said if expectant mothers wished to have their maternity care transferred elsewhere, they would be facilitated to do so.
While the steps taken in terms of the Patient Safety are welcome in this case, it becomes clear that many Notifiable Incidents need to be designated by the Minister of Health as Notifiable Incidents so that in all healthcare settings not just PUH such incidents become Notifiable Incidents under the Patient Safety Act and Mandatory Open Disclosure is required. The Patient Safety Act as Dr. Gabriel Scally has stated is still limited in scope.
For more detailed insights into how the Patient Safety Act 2023 impacts you and how Whelan Law can support you, please visit our Patient Safety Rights Legal Advice https://www.whelanlaw.ie/news/medical-negligence-patient-safety-item-2-1-a-and-b-/