A HIQA report which was published today has found that further improvements in governance is needed at Letterkenny University Hospital to safeguard gynaecology services and to ensure the safety of women accessing those services at the Donegal based Hospital.
HIQA’s Director of Healthcare Regulation, claims that a number of women and families raised concerns in relation to the gynaecology services at the hospital over the past few years.
The priority in the review was to examine the effectiveness and sustainability of measures introduced to improve the quality and safety of gynaecology services and to provide assurances about the service.
Sean Egan has been telling Ocean FM News that despite a number of initiatives and measures introduced by Saolta Group since 2018, HIQA was not assured that there were sufficient and effective governance and oversight arrangements in place when it comes to gynaecology being provided at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The report also concluded that the transition to a new ambulatory (outpatient) gynaecology service was welcome; however, the expected number of women that could be managed in this services at Letterkenny University Hospital fell short of that estimated by national HSE. The ambulatory gynaecology service at the hospital was not fully established and was working at only 50% of its potential capacity.
Today’s publication stated that the recruitment and retention of nurses, midwifery and administrative staff is also a risk for patients:
