The Health Information Bill will allow HIQA to develop national standards on the open disclosure of patient safety incidents to patients, Minister of State for Primary Care Roisin Shortall told delegates at the launch of healthcomplaints.ie
Minister Shortall added that the Bill, due to be published early next year, would allow the Authority to set national standards on the reporting of adverse events and clinical audits. “The Bill will also provide that statements made in good faith by healthcare providers in compliance with the standards will not be admissible in a civil action,” the Minister stated. “As recommended by the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, the reporting of serious adverse events will be mandatory and reports will be confidential and privileged.”
Speaking to IMN, Minister Shortall welcomed the health complaints initiative, which aims to help the public understand how to complain about the health service. “I think it’s really important that we move toward a situation where we’re open about the systems that we have in place and honest about the shortcomings in those systems,” Minister Shortall said.
