No formal complaint behind Mallow inquiry

THE controversial investigation into Mallow General Hospital (MGH), which could result in the facility being severely downgraded or closed, is not based on any formal complaint by patients or medical staff.

The Irish Examiner has learned that despite initial claims the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inquiry is the result of at least one complaint, no such correspondence has taken place.

Less than 24 hours after local GPs Dr Patrick O’Riordan and Dr Billy Christopher wrote to HIQA seeking clarification on the reasons behind the investigation, HSE and HIQA officials yesterday confirmed to MGH management that no complaint has been made about the facility.

As a result, Mallow Hospital Action Group member and Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock said the controversial HIQA inquiry cannot now act as an “Ennis Hospital inquiry”, launched in April 2009 after specific mistakes were made involving cancer diagnoses.

“We now know there was no specific complaint from a patient or other person. As such, the tone of the inquiry must now change. If there was no specific complaint, then the risk profile of MGH has not changed.

“If we are being investigated despite that fact, then CUH has to be investigated as well because it will take up the slack if we are downgraded, so its risk profile will automatically increase in that scenario,” he said.

A spokesperson for HIQA declined to comment as the investigation is now under way but said the group is still in “receipt of information” which remains at the centre of the inquiry.

The latest turn in the MGH saga occurred as it emerged South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) in Cork city is also facing a HIQA probe unless it satisfies queries relating to on-call emergency surgical cover by Sunday.

Last year, breast surgery services controversially moved from the SIVUH to CUH, with doctors claiming the change meant staff would no longer be available for emergency operations at the smaller facility.