Labour calls for watchdog to protect patients

TOUGH new plans to put patients at the heart of the Health Service and restore public confidence were revealed yesterday by the opposition.

Labour and Fine Gael have called for a patients’ watchdog to be accountable for the quality and standard of care.

The alternative government want a Patient Safety Authority (PSA) to put in place systems which will ensure that a patient, who has a concern over their treatment or care, will have an advocacy system to resolve their complaint.

The scheme will also include a protection for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing in their workplace.

The proposal is the third chapter of an agreed joint programme for the Health Service between both the parties.

They’ve previously focused on tackling the A&E crisis and re-prioritising mental health.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he had been appalled by what he saw in some of the State hospitals.

“Recent experiences like Leas Cross show how this authority would contribute to the patients’ safety,” he said.

“It is not about naming and shaming — it is about accountability.”

Labour’s Pat Rabbitte said the PSA will give protection to whistleblowers who act in good faith where there is danger to health and safety of a patient, staff member, and members of the public.

“The people employed are contracted to provide care and are accountable for the quality and standard of care,” he said.

Both parties believe recent failures in the health system — including the Lourdes Hospital inquiry, the death of Pat Joe Walsh, the Peter McKenna case, and Leas Cross — highlight the need for their proposal.

The opposition vowed that, if elected, it would get matrons and sisters back in charge on wards to challenge hygiene and cleanliness and put patient safety first.

It will also take back on board functions currently under the remit of the Mental Health Commission, including registering and inspecting centres and services, integrating services for people with mental illness with those receiving care from other parts of the health services, and reducing the isolation of mental health services.

Fine Gael health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey said he wanted to bring ministerial responsibility back in to responsibility for patient care.

“Under the present Government they seem to know everything on the costs of care of a patient, but nothing on the value of the patient in the health care system. That’s what we want change,” he said.