Governance changes at Tallaght welcome, but substantial questions not answered
Issued : Tuesday 16 March, 2010
Statement by Pat Rabbitte TD
Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
The statement from the Board of Tallaght Hospital is welcome insofar as it goes. A smaller Management Board is clearly needed.
The statement does not answer several outstanding questions such as:
* Why did the Medical Board of the hospital not consider the crisis in radiology?
* To what extent did consultants' private workload contribute to the crisis?
* Why did the HSE never take up an appointment to the Board?
* If the Minister was advised of a serious problem in radiology in mid-December, why did Prof Drumm not hear about it until last Tuesday?
An independent inquiry into both the unread x-rays and unopened GP referral letters must be concluded as early as possible. The governance changes announced by the Board should help restore the reputation of the hospital, but the inquiry must be speedy and seen to be independent.
