The HSE is reportedly coming under fire from the Health Information and Quality Authority over the slow progress in implementing aspects of a report on patient safety at Clare’s County Hospital.
HIQUA’s review of procedures followed the tragic misdiagnosis cases of Ann Moriarty and Edel Kelly.
In April last year HIQA published its recommendations for Ennis General
The safety review of Clare’s County Hospital was carried out after the revelation in 2008 that at two deceased cancer patients, Ann Moriarty from Ennis and Kilrush woman Edel Kelly had been misdiagnosed at the hospital.
However according to the Irish Times several letters were sent by The Health Information and Quality Authority to the HSE in recent months seeking information on implementation of its report and expressing concern at progress.
In July 2009 HIQA chief Dr Tracey Cooper, voiced concerns to HSE head Professor Brendan Drumm about the capability of leadership in the Midwest to implement the findings and urged measure be put in place to address this.
However Professor Drumm replied that structures had been established and an external review of risk management was also commissioned.
But with no plan forthcoming HIQA again wrote to Professor Drumm in August, October and again in December to express its concern over the lack of progress on the review and in January Professor Drum said progress was made and a report on implementation would be forwarded to the authority.