Mallow Hospital Probed Over Care Concerns

A health watchdog has announced today it is to investigate Mallow hospital over allegations of poor care and safety concerns.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) announced today it is to undertake an investigation into the quality and safety of services provided by the Health Service Executive at Mallow General Hospital.

In a statement released today, HIQA said it has identified "specific concerns about aspects of the care provided at Mallow General Hospital following receipt of information about the types of patients being treated in that hospital."

"This has raised concerns about potential risks to the health and welfare of persons receiving certain types of care at Mallow General Hospital centred on the provision of major surgery, the emergency department and critical care services," the statement said.

The HIQA statement added that it is of concern to the Authority that there are hospitals continuing to provide care to acutely ill patients where the volume of patients is too low or the depth of clinical staffing cover is insufficient for this to be done reliably and safely. "With this in mind, the Authority has sought assurances from the HSE as to how the national recommendations from the Ennis report have been implemented. The Authority is not sufficiently assured by the response," it added.

The inquiry is being established under Section 9 of the Health Act 2007, which empowers HIQA to undertake an investigation on the grounds that there is a serious risk to the health or welfare of patients.

HIQA used the same powers to conduct an inquiry at Ennis General Hospital in 2008 following complaints from the families of two patients.

A spokesman for the hospital said the purpose of the investigation was to ascertain whether safe, quality services and practices are in place and, where this was not the case, to eliminate or reduce the risks for patients.

Its report in April 2009 recommended the cessation of the hospital’s acute, specialist, and complex surgical services, including cancer surgery, critical care/intensive care services, the 24-hour emergency department, maternity services, and paediatric services.

The Authority said that the investigation report, and its recommendations, will be published following the completion of the investigation.

(DW/BMcC)