Overhaul of Tallaght Hospital management welcomed

Embattled Tallaght Hospital revealed an overhaul of its management today in the wake of the unchecked X-ray and unopened referral letters controversy.

Reforms will include slashing the size of its board of management from 22 to 10 and bringing in outside experts and patient representatives.

Hospital chairman Lyndon MacCann said there would also be a new post created for a director of quality and other “fundamental” changes to modernise how the facility is run.

Health Minister Mary Harney said she welcomed any steps to improve the governance of the hospital so that roles were clarified and procedures streamlined.

“The only priority must be that the new arrangements are to the benefit of patients,” she said.

Charlie O’Connor, local TD and member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, welcomed the plans but said he remained concerned about the speed of the changes.

“The statement from the chairman of the board says these reforms will be implemented immediately,” he said.

“I really want to see that happen but I am concerned that change on this scale will be bogged down by internal politics in the governance of Tallaght Hospital.”

Mr O’Connor demanded the Health Service Executive appoint a respected individual to the current board and continue to have a representative on the new, smaller board.

In a statement from the hospital, the current board said it accepted all the proposals at a meeting last night – its first since it emerged almost 58,000 X-rays went unchecked by radiologists over four years and thousands of GP referral letters were left unopened.

“The decisions of last night are part of a process of reform initiated by the current chairman over the past 18 months,” said the statement.