Seven terms of reference had been set for the investigation into Ennis hospital when it was established in September 2008.
Chaired by Diane Whittingham, chief executive of the Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust in West Yorkshire, it set out to ascertain whether safe, quality services and practices were in place at the hospital.
It was asked to identify any serious risks to patients and to make recommendations with a view to eliminating them.
Its terms of reference required it to investigate the planning, management and provision of clinical services in the hospital, including the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients. It was asked to take into account the experiences of patients and family members “from recent cases”.
It was also required to examine the management and use of information in the hospital, communication between staff and with patients, governance issues, how complaints and patient-safety incidents were handled and communications with patients around these.
The investigation team had six members.
Joining Ms Whittingham were: Mary Dunnion, director of nursing at the Mercy Hospital Cork; Dr Alan McKinney, consultant in emergency medicine in Derry; Henry Osborne, consultant surgeon at Beaumont Hospital; Dr Dermot Power, consultant in geriatric medicine at the Mater Hospital; and Christine Murphy- Whyte, chairwoman of Europa Donna Ireland.