Hiqa seeks clarity over Cork University Hospital safety fears 

Health watchdog has written to Cork University Hospital in the wake of serious concerns raised by its chief executive last week

Cork University Hospital's CEO and senior consultants wrote to the HSE last week raising safety concerns linked to staff shortages. Stock picture: Larry Cummins

The health watchdog has written to Cork University Hospital (CUH) querying potential health and safety issues in the wake of serious concerns raised by its chief executive last week.

The hospital’s chief executive, Jennifer Kearney, followed by senior consultants, wrote to the regional management in HSE Southwest last week. They raised serious safety concerns linked to staff shortages and delays with recruitment.

After concerns were aired in the media, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) wrote to CUH querying the reports.

A spokesman confirmed Hiqa has written to CUH, saying it is seeking clarification on what was reported. It is awaiting a response from the hospital before any decisions are taken around follow-up action, he added.

Part of Hiqa’s role is overseeing hospitals, and it has been closely involved, for example, in efforts to support change at University Hospital Limerick.

Hiqa inspectors visited CUH and compiled a report in March of last year.

This found the emergency department was seeing “high levels of activity and, in accordance with the hospital’s escalation plan, was classified as being in red escalation” on the day.

Inspectors recorded “additional challenges” for the site, including limited availability of suitable community rehabilitation, transitional, and step-down beds.

They recorded challenges for staff in organising enough home-care support for patients returning home.

“This was consistent with Hiqa’s previous inspection in 2023. As a result, 25 patients experienced delays in their transfer of care on the day,” the report said.

Overall, the report concluded that while the system was being well-managed, it found a “significant mismatch between the demand for health services and the availability of beds at the hospital”.

It also noted “scope for improvement” in data monitoring and collection, which could improve patients’ experiences.

CUH has been consistently under pressure, said Ms Kearney, who warned in her letter of staff shortages coming to over 1,000 people.

“I believe that process is creating a foreseeable risk to patients and staff,” she wrote. “I would rather raise that concern now, when there is still an opportunity to act, than remain silent and explain afterwards why we did not.”

• Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent