The Ombudsman believes there is a genuine risk to patients because of a lack of independent oversight of clinical judgement in the health system.
Peter Tyndall says one of his biggest concerns is that there is no organisation to complain to if a patient feels there has been poor judgement in their care.
There were 585 complaints made about the HSE last year according to the Ombudsman’s Annual Report – the second highest rate for a government department – behind the Department of Social Protection.
The Ombudsman Peter Tyndall says a Supreme Court ruling last year limited the Medical Council’s ability to investigate clinical judgement, which leaves no oversight at all.