THE SHORTCOMINGS in our healthcare system have been laid bare by the extent of the legislative, administrative and ethical changes recommended by the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance. A succession of medical scandals has shocked the public and undermined confidence in the system.
Now the Government must provide the funding necessary to address these issues while rebuilding public confidence through the passage of legislation. A fundamental requirement is to fully inform patients when things go wrong.
It will not be easy. Vested interests are deeply resistant to change. And while many of the recommendations may be acceptable in principle, putting them into practice and securing the co-operation of those involved could be a different matter. In addition, Minister for Health Mary Harney will find it hard to prise the necessary money out of the Department of Finance.
Whatever about funding, there is no reason why an immediate start should not be made within the Department of Health in preparing the necessary legislation. It will be complex and will require careful drafting and then vetting by the Attorney General's office. Such a Bill is likely to take at least two years before it becomes law. With luck and good management, that timeframe will also see an end to current fiscal difficulties and bring a resurgence in economic activity.
A lack of accountability and of structures designed to underpin patient safety are two of the major shortcomings identified by the commission. Legislation will be required to deal with these matters, along with the introduction of a formal licensing system for public and private hospitals, cosmetic surgeries, family doctors and other sources of medical care. The Health Information and Quality Authority should be responsible for licensing all medical centres and must be empowered to shut them down in the interests of patient safety.
Ms Harney has welcomed the report and will bring its recommendations to Cabinet next month. There should be no shilly-shallying after that. As the report makes clear, chief executives of healthcare organisations and managers of health services should be subjected to the same ethical and disciplinary system as healthcare professionals and should be accountable for patient safety. Other aspects, such as paying special attention to the employment of locums and the appointment of a new complaints body to address mistakes made by individuals and multi-disciplinary teams, are welcome. All that is needed now is funding and political commitment.