International Conference on Medical Regulation, Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin, 3-6 September 2025
The importance of a learning culture in healthcare was emphasised at the International Conference on Medical Regulation in Dublin.
In an address on 4 September, Mr Tiberius Pereira of Patients for Patient Safety Ireland spoke of the need to gain an understanding of the environment and culture that contributed to adverse events. This was in addition to the requirement for full open disclosure to patients and a level of accountability for what went wrong.
Mr Pereira said it was important to acknowledge the “really high standard of care” in Ireland, which was provided by healthcare professionals “who truly care”.
“For most people, they appreciate the health services they receive, and most people recognise our healthcare is inherently risky, and every now and then something does go wrong.” However, people must receive “full and honest and timely” explanations in these situations. This type of response engenders a greater trust in the system. “On the other hand, if that doesn’t happen, people do start to lose trust.”
Patients for Patient Safety Ireland was formed over 12 years ago under a World Health Organisation programme. Members work in partnership and collaboration with healthcare professionals and policymakers to make health services safer and enable the patient voice to be heard fully.
Mr Pereira said most members had experienced serious harm either directly or through affected family members.
“And most of us have had to go through a process [where it] hasn’t been easy to get answers to… very basic questions and very understandable questions.”
Mr Pereira also highlighted barriers to becoming involved in patient advocacy for those in disadvantaged situations. He said people living in poverty and homelessness often experienced the worst health outcomes, and their voices must be heard.
Speaking to the Medical Independent, Mr Pereira said translating policy into practice remained a key challenge for the Irish health system.
“There are lots of good policies, strategies, and recommendations [for healthcare]; it is how does that make its way to the patient experience?”
In regard to implementation of open disclosure, for example, the level of progress to date was “disappointing”.
He suggested that an independent audit of open disclosure practice could help drive progress. In addition, he said greater use of face-to-face training may be beneficial.
Other speakers at the conference included Prof Dame Carrie MacEwen, Chair of the General Medical Council, UK, who discussed the importance of compassionate leadership in medical regulation; and Dr Austin O’Carroll, GP in inner city Dublin, who spoke on broadening access to medical education and training to people from disadvantaged groups.
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