SIPTU seeks audit of services at CUH

TRADE union SIPTU has suggested that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carry out an audit of service provision in Cork University Hospital (CUH) due to overcrowding.

The union made the call as it warned that the audit carried out by HIQA at Mallow General Hospital must not lead to a reduction in services to the north Cork community.

Branch organiser Liam Allen said nursing and non-nursing staff represented by the union welcomed the fact that the HIQA investigation in Mallow was not triggered by a complaint by patients admitted to the hospital.

“Previous audits and inspections of cleanliness at Mallow Hospital have always been positive. If there are any recommendations from HIQA for improvements we would hope and expect the HSE to fund them,” he said.

Mr Allen claimed the reduction of services and the downgrading of the accident and emergency department at Mallow was placing undue pressure on Cork University Hospital to which patients were being transferred.

“It might make more sense for HIQA to carry out an audit of the situation at CUH which is overcrowded due to the transfer of patients from Mallow and elsewhere. Mallow General Hospital in north Cork serves a catchment area with a population of 90,000 people stretching from the Waterford to Kerry borders. We are advising members of the public to go on the internet and look up the website ratemyhospital.ie to get a view of what patients think of Mallow Hospital.”

HIQA has said it received confidential information about treatment a patient received in Mallow hospital which was “very concerning” and which it was obliged to investigate.

It said that information indicated that the type of care provided to patients undergoing certain treatments in the hospital was not in line with the national recommendations made in the Ennis report, which highlighted the risks arising from low numbers of patients being treated for certain conditions and the clinical staffing cover possible in such hospitals.