Fitness to practice inquiry
Deputy Breathnach asks whether the Government is satisfied that medical fitness-to-practice procedures are working properly after a doctor’s suspension. After a procedural query, the Tánaiste says the Medical Council must prioritise patient safety and asks for further details if the Deputy wants a follow-up.
The programme for Government contains a commitment to an enhanced health service. During the recess, the President of the High Court suspended a doctor from the medical register who had worked in South Tipperary General Hospital, Mayo University Hospital and in Navan, in my own area. I am very concerned with ensuring that entirely substandard practitioners are suspended. More importantly, the guidelines must provide for various sanctions when an inquiry takes place. That is not clear. I am particularly concerned as this is not the first occasion when such an issue has emerged. Doctors appear to be hiding behind suspension or being struck off in cases where criminality is suspected. I want to know what measures have been taken to ensure that the Medical Council informs the Garda Síochána about doctors who appear to carry out criminal activity and are merely struck off.
Comment on this
I raise this in reference to the programme for Government and the fitness to practice inquiry. I wish to ask if the Government is satisfied that the latter is operating correctly.
Comment on this
There is an obligation on the Medical Council to prioritise patient care. If it is aware of anything that may compromise that it has an obligation to act. I am not familiar with the court judgment the Deputy refers to so I must be careful in what I say. If the Deputy wishes to send me more details I can come back to him.