17.05.2012
Archbishop’s Statement on Publication of HIQA Report on Tallaght Hospital
Publication of the Health Information and Quality Authority Report into the Quality Safety and Governance of Care Provided by Tallaght Hospital
Statement from the President of Tallaght Hospital, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson
The President of Tallaght Hospital, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, has welcomed the recommendations contained in the report of the Health Information and Quality Authority on the Quality Safety and Governance of Care provided at the hospital published today. The report contains 76 recommendations of which seven are specific to Tallaght Hospital. The remainder are recommendations for all hospitals (including Tallaght), the Health Service Executive or the Department of Health.
Dr Jackson noted that since the commencement of the Authority’s investigation, very significant changes had taken place at Tallaght Hospital. All of the recommendations contained in the Report relating to Tallaght Hospital have been carried out or are in the process of being carried out. Dr Jackson stressed that at the heart of every hospital is the care and well–being of patients as individuals. He also spoke of the high level of commitment of staff at Tallaght Hospital. He went on to commend the work of the hospital management, the board and staff in implementing these changes.
The Archbishop pointed to the new Board, new management, new governance, new systems and new structures which have all been put in place at Tallaght Hospital in recent months. He also said that the hospital has co–operated throughout with the Minister for Health in implementing such changes and improvements. He accepted that what had happened in the past was deeply regrettable but said that considerable steps had been taken in the intervening time to rectify the situation.
In relation to governance at the hospital the Authority recommended that the charter of Tallaght Hospital be replaced by the necessary legislative means to establish a fit–for purpose Board. It also recommended that the current Interim Board should be dissolved in the coming months and, with a managed transition, a new Board be appointed.
Dr Jackson concluded: ‘HIQA has drawn attention to a broad range of issues which point to challenges for the Irish hospital system. There are specific lessons for Tallaght. In taking them to heart, we wish to express our commitment to the community which we seek to serve locally and further afield for the future.’