Opposition demands new health watchdog

Opposition parties are to demand a new patient safety watchdog following a series of damning reports into Ireland’s health services, it was revealed today.

Opposition parties are to demand a new patient safety watchdog following a series of damning reports into Ireland’s health services, it was revealed today.

Both Fine Gael and Labour will ask the government in the Dáil this week to immediately establish an independent authority charged with upholding standards in hospitals and care homes.

The call comes in the wake of several patient mistreatment scandals that shocked the country, including the Lourdes Hospital inquiry, the death of Pat Joe Walsh in Monaghan Hospital and the Leas Cross reports.

The proposed Patient Safety Authority would monitor standards of care in all registered health and social care facilities, under the plans.

It would advise the Health Safety Executive (HSE) on patient safety, investigate complaints and carry out ’quality reviews’ on the provision of services.

Furthermore it would act as the Commissioner for Mental Health Services and would facilitate whistleblowers from within the health service.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and his Labour counterpart Pat Rabbitte, along with their respective health spokespersons, Liam Twomey and Liz McManus, are spearheading the drive to establish the watchdog.

They said the HSE is supportive of the need for an independent body with a strong legislative base focussed on patient safety.

The recent scandals on patient abuse proved a clear need for a new approach to the monitoring and regulating of standards, according to Dr Twomey.

“The safety of the patient must be paramount. We need a patient’s watchdog with real teeth and clear responsibilities,” he said. “The people employed, or contracted, to provide care are accountable for the quality and standard of care, which they provide.”

Both parties have tabled a joint private members motion before the lower house of the Oireachtas to debate the issue on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Liz McManus believes the general public now expect and demand the type of system they are proposing.

“We need an independent, co-ordinated and standardised approach to patient safety, with clear accountability including political accountability – and enforcement,” she said.

“Among service providers, including private nursing homes there is an appetite for better co-ordination and co-operation to improve inspections while allowing staff to concentrate on delivering services.

“There is a need for one body to take the lead in co-ordinating and managing this activity,” she added.

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