Hospital inquiry details to be revealed

THE state’s independent health watchdog will announce the terms of reference for its inquiry into Mallow General Hospital today.

A spokesperson for the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) confirmed last night that the inquiry is being established under Section 9 of the Health Act 2007, which empowers it to undertake an investigation on the grounds that there is a serious risk to the health or welfare of patients.

HIQA used the same powers to conduct an inquiry at Ennis General Hospital in 2008 following complaints from the families of two patients.

Its report in April 2009 recommended the cessation of the hospital’s acute, specialist, and complex surgical services, including cancer surgery, critical care/intensive care services, the 24-hour emergency department, maternity services, and paediatric services.

The HIQA spokesperson declined to comment on the nature, detail or number of complaints made in relation to Mallow Hospital.

But hospital campaigners strongly rejected reports that complaints about patient safety sparked the probe.

Labour TD Sean Sherlock, the spokesperson for the Mallow Hospital Action Group, said he believes the inquiry will examine possible deficiencies in the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) administrative and support structures at the hospital.

“The HSE is spinning this in such a way so as to welcome the probe but there is no evidence to suggest this is about patient safety,” Mr Sherlock said.

The HSE has welcomed the inquiry and said independent inspection is an important function in ensuring the highest quality and standards for patients.

“The HSE can confirm that many of the issues identified at Mallow General Hospital have already been addressed and, in order to continue to ensure a safe service, there is a comprehensive plan in place to address other issues,” a spokesperson said.

But Mr Sherlock said some of the hospital’s senior medics have found no evidence of any patient complaints.

He described the HIQA inquiry as “an underhand process” which would “feed” in to the HSE’s agenda to downgrade the hospital.

“This looks like a copycat of the Ennis hospital situation and I suspect that a similar method will be employed here to downgrade Emergency Department services,” he said

He also said the hospital’s medical staff are already engaged with the HSE South’s reconfiguration process.

“That process shouldn’t be compromised by HIQA,” he said.