Consultants warn of threat to acute care by underfunding

The underfunding of frontline hospital services is undermining the safety and quality of acute care, according to a hospital consultants group.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said a Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report on Portlaoise hospital highlighted the "critical importance" of a properly resourced health service and the need for a clearly defined model of clinical service for each hospital.

The report, published last week, had found that all levels in the HSE were aware of patient safety risks at Portlaoise hospital but failed to act on them.

It was commissioned following the deaths of five babies in the hospital’s maternity unit and is critical of the Government for failing to properly fund the level of services provided in the hospital, including 24-hour emergency care.

IHCA president Gerard Crotty said the report confirmed the HSE failed to resource Portlaoise hospital sufficiently and ensure adequate governance arrangements for 24-hour care in a model three hospital.

HSE director general Tony O'Brien said on Sunday the Government, not the HSE, had made the decision to make Portlaoise a level three hospital.

Dr Crotty said acute services are failing to recruit and retain the number of consultants and doctors required to provide safe and timely care to patients.

He added that the health service does not have the capacity currently to treat patients without delays .

National Women’s Council of Ireland

The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) also commented on the report, saying urgent action was needed to ensure its recommendations were fully implemented.

"NWCI welcome the establishment of a steering group to draw up a National Maternity Strategy for Ireland before the end of the year," said the organisation's health and human rights worker, Jacqueline Healy.

“An independent patient advocacy service must be prioritised without further delay, fully independent of the HSE. Above all, maternity services must be well resourced. NWCI and our members look forward to engaging with the steering group.”

Ms Healy added: "The maternity strategy was first recommended following the death of Savita Halappanavar, and is only being acted upon two years later.

“It is clear that for women to now trust the HSE, they must act swiftly to ensure that we have maternity services that are women-centred, safe and accountable. For women, it is imperative that issues of choice, consent, information and support are front and centre of any overhaul.”