Health information and patient safety Bill
Deputy Catherine Connolly asked when the renamed health information and patient safety Bill would be published and raised concern about private hospital oversight. The Taoiseach said work was under way, no date was available, and some patient-safety measures were already in the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill.
It is Catherine Connolly.
Comment on this
Tá sin ceart go leor. Where is the health information Bill, which has been renamed the health information and patient Safety Bill? Almost two and half years ago, the Taoiseach, who was at that time the Minister for Health, was quoted as confirming that approval had been given in respect of the heads of the Bill and that it was specifically designed, among other things, to alleviate public concern about the safety and quality of some services provided in the private health sector and, in particular, to allow the private hospitals to come under the ambit of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. What progress has been made on that Bill?
Comment on this
I am advised that work is under way on the Bill but we do not have a date for publication yet. I do recall that some aspects of the patient safety package are in the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill which we hope will come through both Houses this week. That includes periodic payment orders, so that if somebody has been damaged as a result of being harmed in the course of health care, instead of one lump sum payment they will receive a period of payments over the years that can be increased as needs be. It also includes provisions to protect open disclosure. It will be a very significant step forward if we can have that legislation through both Houses this week. The Deputy is correct to say that the regulation of private hospitals, which is long overdue, is provided for in this new Bill. I do not have a date for it yet but will certainly pursue the matter with the Minister for Health.