Up to 8,000 patients are estimated to die in Irish hospitals each year due to errors or incidents, according to research by patient groups.
Speaking at a conference on medical negligence today, Jim Reilly, development officer with Patient Focus, said international figures show that between 4 per cent and 16 per cent of patients experience potentially dangerous adverse events. However, he said the scale of the problem was not being acknowledged by health professionals.
“A major culture change is required within the Irish healthcare system to ensure patient safety is to the fore in everyone’s mind,” Mr Reilly said.
“There needs to be more open communication with patients and their families, and the leaders in Irish healthcare should foster a culture of patient safety.”
Michael Boylan, a medical negligence lawyer with Augustus Cullen Law, said there was a major gap between the policies that promote openness within the health system and the reality on the ground.
Figures compiled by the State Claims Agency for 2008 show that 83,661 adverse incidents were recorded by hospitals. The figures include both major and minor incidents ranging from slips, trips and falls to medication and treatment errors.
The conference, organised by the UK-based Action Against Medical Accidents charity, also heard calls for a mandatory duty on the part of health workers to report adverse incidents.
Peter Walsh, chief executive of the charity, said it was vital there was an informed debate about these issues and improving access to justice for injured patients. He said many more people were killed or permanently disabled in hospitals due to medical accidents than were injured in road traffic accidents.