Sign up now for ease of access to The Medical Independent, Ireland’s most frequently published medical newspaper, delivering award-winning news and investigative reporting.
Established in 2010, along with its sister publication The Medical Independent, our stated aim is to investigate and analyse the major issues affecting healthcare and the medical profession in Ireland. The Medical Independent has won a number of awards for its investigative journalism, and its stories are frequently picked up by national digital, broadcast and print media. The Medical Independent is published by GreenCross Publishing.
Address: Top Floor, 111 Rathmines Road Lr, Dublin 6
Tel: 353 (01) 441 0024
GreenCross Publishing is owned by Graham Cooke.
The HSE’s Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland (ODTI) requires a “stronger governance role” regarding oversight of funding and transplant centres’ performance, Director Prof Jim Egan has said.
According to minutes of an ODTI and the Department of Health meeting on 12 November, “Prof Egan expressed the view that the ODTI needs a stronger governance role. Difficulties experienced by the ODTI in relation to oversight of funding and performance in transplant centres were discussed.
“The ODTI indicated that they are reviewing NHSBT’s terms of reference with a view to developing its own,” stated the minutes, obtained from the Department under Freedom of Information law.
Last month, an ODTI spokesperson told the Medical Independent (MI): “This is under discussion with the Department of Health.”
In correspondence on 21 November, Prof Egan wrote to Mr Michael Conroy, Principal Officer at the Department’s Cancer, Blood and Organs Policy Unit, to advise that the Human Tissue Bill would raise “practical governance issues from a safety and quality perspective”.
Prof Egan continued: “I am concerned that the current traditional mechanisms of engagement are inadequate for challenges in the future. I am reminded of the recent challenges we have in terms of provision of pancreas transplant services”, which only recently resumed 24/7 operation.
Mr Conroy responded that the enactment of the proposed legislation “would strengthen patient safety and quality in relation to organ donation and transplantation” and that the issue could be discussed at their next monthly meeting, or earlier.
In comments issued in February, ODTI’s spokesperson informed MI that discussions regarding governance structures were ongoing.
Among other aspects, the Bill will provide general conditions for the removal, donation and use of organs and tissues from deceased and living persons for the purposes of transplantation; and provide for an opt-out system of consent for organ donation, and for an associated register.
It remains unclear what aspects of the Bill, such as an opt-out register, may be pursued by the next Government.
The Irish Kidney Association has consistently argued that appointment of specialist personnel is the most important aspect of boosting donation and transplant. It has also advocated for the inclusion of a ‘yes’ registry, if the opt-out registry goes ahead.
Critical staffing deficits in the HSE adult safeguarding and protection team (SPT) covering...
The HSE is failing to reach its open disclosure training targets for staff – including doctors...
The ICGP is examining alternative pathways for entry into general practice training as part of efforts...
In December, the HSE released part of an external review into the case of 'Brandon', a...
The evidence on doctor burnout “should scare us and concern us”, the Director of the RCSI...
A review of public health governance structures and addressing “longstanding” IT infrastructure...
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.