Culture in health service ‘not easy to change’

The Department of Health Chief Medical Officer concedes that “a determination not to reveal the clear and full facts to patients who deserve them” has been a recurrent theme in cases where the health service failed those in its care.

Dr Tony Holohan, who previously compiled a report on baby deaths at Portlaoise Hospital, said he “completely agreed” that apologies often come too late for patients as a consequence of a culture in the health service that is “not an easy thing to change”.

He said when things went wrong, doctors really only have “one opportunity” to put it right by being upfront with the patient from the get-go, and that “no amount of activity after the fact” would make up for failure to use that chance.