Minister Harris welcomes the inaugural meeting of the Independent Patient Safety Council
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 27 January 2020
- Last updated on: 27 January 2020
The Independent Patient Safety Council, appointed to provide advice and guidance to the Minister for Health from a broad range of perspectives on the development of patient safety policy, held its first meeting today in the Department of Health.
Commenting, Minister Harris said:
"Patient safety is the cornerstone of our healthcare system. The Council is a significant addition to a range of initiatives that the government has taken to enhance engagement with relevant experts, leaders and citizens in policy making. The Council members bring a wide variety of expertise and experience from various backgrounds including education, patient safety, health policy, healthcare leadership, and many more. Importantly, we also have three members representing the public voice.”
Patient safety is an issue not only of national but of international concern. It has been identified as a leading cause of the global disease burden. Delivery of healthcare is inherently risky, and it is inevitable that things go wrong. Mitigating against and limiting harm while supporting a culture of learning through patient safety legislation and policy has been proven internationally to be effective in reducing the number of incidents and the cost of unintended or unexpected harm to patients.
Minister Harris added:
"The Independent Patient Safety Council will be chaired by Noeline Blackwell who has many years’ experience at a senior level in tackling difficult and complex issues, as the CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and in her former roles, including as Director of the Free Legal Advice Centre. In addition, I am delighted and honoured with the calibre of the Council members and the personal commitment they have given to this endeavour. I want to thank each of them for their leadership in accepting this role. I strongly believe this Council will play a vital role in advancing the patient safety policy agenda.”
The Chair of the Committee, Noeline Blackwell, said:
“I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as Chair to this important Council. I intend to work closely with the members to provide a positive and effective contribution to the Minister for Health in the development of patient safety policy in Ireland.”
The Council will initially provide advice and guidance to the Department of Health for the development of an Open Disclosure Framework to assist organisations and clinicians to apply the principles of open disclosure to communicate with patients when healthcare does not go to plan.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
Membership of the Council comprises:
- Ms Noeline Blackwell - CEO, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre - Chair
- Dr Paul D'Alton - Head of the Department of Psychology, St Vincent’s University Hospital
- Ms Brigid Doherty - Patient/Public Voice
- Mr Brian Fitzgerald - Deputy CEO, Beacon Hospital
- Professor Gerry Fitzpatrick – Deputy President, College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland
- Dr Una Geary - Director of Quality, Safety and Improvement, St James’s Hospital
- Dr Colm Henry - Chief Clinical Officer, Health Service Executive
- Ms Kerrie Leonard – Patient/Public Voice
- Ms Peggy Maguire – Director, European Institute of Women’s Health
- Ms Niamh Muldoon – CEO, Veterinary Council of Ireland
- Professor Charles Normand - Edward Kennedy Professor of Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin
- Mr Martin O'Halloran – former CEO, Health and Safety Authority
- Dr Cathal O'Keeffe - Head of Clinical Risk, State Claims Agency
- Dr Brian Place - Patient/Public Voice
- Mr Phelim Quinn - CEO, Health Information and Quality Authority
- Ms Suzette Woodward - International Patient Safety Expert
The Council will agree terms of reference and rules of procedure at its first meeting.
Members are appointed for a period of three to five years and the Council will meet typically two to three times per year.