Report criticises speed of HSE response to problems at Mallow Hospital
A report into the quality and safety of certain services at Mallow General Hospital in Cork has found the HSE has been slow to implement recommended changes.
HIQA has undertaken the study over concerns as to whether the necessary arrangements are in place to provide high quality services for acutely ill patients.
The authority's investigation report into the hospital in 2009 addressed concerns in the way acute hospital services are organised to ensure a safe service for patients.
Recommendations for urgent national action were made by HIQA to the Health Service Executive but this follow up investigation about services at Mallow General Hospital has found the HSE's response lacking.
It damningly finds that the HSE waited 14 months to act in what HIQA describes as a serious failing of corporate governance and a very concerning deficit in our health system, namely the ability to learn.
The report finds Mallow General Hospital has a service based on historic practices with inadequate number of senior medical staff available on site outside core hours for a hospital open to emergencies 24 hours a day.
That was remedied last February but the report finds emergency services should be closed in any hospital that cannot provide immediate access to clinical triage and senior medical staff.
The HSE has since introduced a mandatory policy for Cork University Hospital to accept critically ill patients from Mallow General Hospital.
“The investigation found that the seniority of medical staff available on site outside core hours in Mallow General Hospital was not adequate for a hospital open to emergencies 24 hours a day,” said Jon Billings, Hiqa’s director of healthcare quality and safety.
“This has subsequently been addressed by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
“In short, the safety and quality of the service provided to patients was dependent on the willingness of local clinical staff at MGH, rather than a resilient and reliable system of care.”
