AIMS IrelandHSE RESPONSE TO HIQA REPORT ON PORTLAOISE HOSPITAL
PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATERNITY SERVICES IRELAND (AIMSI) – HSE RESPONSE TO HIQA REPORT ON PORTLAOISE HOSPITAL
MARCH 24TH 2015
For immediate release 24th March 2015
Press statement from The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMSI)
Contact Krysia Lynch 087 7543751
email chair@aimsireland.ie
PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATERNITY SERVICES IRELAND (AIMSI) – HSE RESPONSE TO HIQA REPORT ON PORTLAOISE HOSPITAL
MARCH 24TH 2015
For immediate release 24th March 2015
Press statement from The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMSI)
Contact Krysia Lynch 087 7543751
email chair@aimsireland.ie
AIMSI are extremely concerned at the news that the HSE have threatened HIQA with an injunction preventing the publication of its independent report into the deaths of five babies and the substandard care provided to 83 women in Portlaoise Hospital. Service users are not human footballs to be kicked around between the HSE and HIQA.
As a consumer representative body, AIMSI are alarmed that women, families and the public at large will not be able to have access the findings of an independent report into repeated failures at the Midlands Regional Hospital until the report meets the approval of the HSE. This begs the question as to what level of control the HSE has over a regulatory, supposedly independent body.
Krysia Lynch, AIMSI Chair says “The key issue here is one of accountability. Who exactly is the HSE answerable to? Families and the public at large need to be reassured that maternity services in this country are accountable, and will respond to concerns raised by the public or to adverse outcomes. In the recent case of Portlaoise, questions have been raised in the media, in the Dail, with the Minister, with the Department of Health and with the HSE itself. The primary goal of all these questions was to secure an independent inquiry by HIQA. Now this inquiry has come to fruition, are we to understand that because the HSE don’t like it, it won’t be published? This raises huge issues for public safety and confidence, not just in the maternity services, but in the HSE and HIQA. AIMSI calls on the Minister of Health to intervene in this dispute and ensure that the report is published as swiftly as possible. It is incredible that the Minister for Health appears powerless to represent these families and the public at large.”
Lynch continues “AIMSI carried out the largest consumer based survey of the Maternity Services in Ireland last year with nearly 3,000 respondents. A key issue for respondents was that they were not listened to; only 49% of respondents said they were able to make an informed refusal for treatment, only 56% of respondents said that their informed consent was sought for procedures, and only 75% of respondents said that they felt welcomed and supported by healthcare professionals. Service users need to be listened to. If they feel they haven’t been listened to, then those representing their interests, and investigating the issues need to be listened to.”
Ciara Considine, spokesperson for the Philomena Canning Campaign, added: ‘We share the concern of AIMSI. As a campaign dedicated to highlighting the miscarriage of justice for independent midwife Philomena Canning, who was victim to a baseless, unlawful suspension as highlighted when she was reinstated after a court case against HSE, and her 29 clients, for whom patient safety was sacrificed by the HSE in contravention of its protocols, we see this in a larger picture of institutional hypocrisy and lack of accountability. Ms Canning was denied due process by the HSE despite no findings against her; the HSE now spuriously invoke ‘due process’ when a regulatory body presents its clear findings, to the extent of ‘reckless endangerment’ of patients. It defies belief and Minister Varadkar must hold the HSE answerable on all counts.’
ENDS
Boilerplate
For more information on AIMSI
For more information on What Matters To You Survey 2014
http://aimsireland.ie/what-matters-to-you-survey-2015/
FOr more information on the Philomena Canning Campaign see
#isupportphilomenacanning