Six key recommendations were made to the running of Letterkenny University Hospital following a recent report on the failings of gynaecology services at the hospital.
The information was released to Councillor Gerry McMOnagle at today’s meeting of the Regional Health Forum West.
The Letterkenny councillor asked when will Saolta carry out an immediate and full Review of all Departments/Specialities at the hospital on the back of the recent report
He was told the Clinical Services Review Report made six recommendations following the report.
These included increasing capacity and staff capability, reviewing the referral and triage system for gynaecology patients, improving communication processes and improving governance structures.
These recommendations are currently being put into effect by an Implementation Group within Saolta.
The Saolta Group commissioned a Review of the Gynaecology Service (with a particular focus on post-menopausal bleeding pathways) at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) in November last year.
This external review was commissioned by the Saolta Group’s, Saolta Group Chief Clinical Director Dr Pat Nash following concerns identified regarding patient care which related to delays in diagnosing cancer of the endometrium.
These concerns were either brought to the hospital’s attention directly by a number of patients or their families or identified through Letterkenny University Hospital’s own processes for monitoring patient quality and safety.
The purpose of the review was to assess the quality and safety of the LUH Gynaecology Service, with a focus on the pathway of care for women presenting with post-menopausal bleeding including subsequent diagnostic pathways for potential gynaecological cancers.
As part of their work, Dr Price and his team considered the findings of reviews of the care provided to eight women who had been patients of the gynaecology service; relevant pathways for women who present at LUH with post-menopausal bleeding; and how governance for quality and safety for the gynaecology service is delivered.
In his report Dr Price identifies areas of good practice, identifies areas for improvement and makes recommendations to implement those improvements.
In addition, a national level Oversight Group will provide assurance that the recommendations are actively implemented within the agreed timeframe.
Furthermore, a Special Measures Team has been on-site in Letterkenny University Hospital since early July identifying and driving operational changes.
In the review report, Dr John Price recommended that the LUH Gynaecology Service should undertake a self-assessment against the HIQA National Standards for Safer, Better Healthcare, 2012. Work undertaken to date on the self-assessment will be expanded in the coming months to include all clinical services in the hospital.