On Monday 26 May, the internal examination (2022) was provided to the Department from the HSE. I wrote to CHI on 26 May, requesting a full response to the report. I received responses advising that CHI has developed an Action Plan to implement the recommendations, and the majority of actions are complete, with work ongoing on remaining actions. I note Children’s Health Ireland's (CHI) publication of a summary of the internal examination (2022) on 16 June. I wrote to the Board again on 18 June requesting assurance that the recommendations have been addressed in full and asking the Board to report directly on the status of children that may have been impacted. I am awaiting a response to this request.
On 20 June, my Department received a copy of the 'Dickson report' and my officials are currently reviewing the report. On 25 June, my Department wrote to the HSE seeking initial assurances and additional information, while the report is being reviewed.
A succession of extant and pending reports have raised corporate and clinical governance concerns at CHI. In response to these, I have moved to strengthen governance and oversight structures at CHI by appointing two members of the HSE Board to the Board of CHI.
The service level agreement between CHI and the HSE has been strengthened in relation to operational oversight. There has also been increased involvement and support from the HSE's Dublin Midlands regional executive officer and senior management. This includes the establishment of the HSE CHI Improvement Steering Group to coordinate oversight of a range of matters of focus at CHI.
It is important that CHI is given the support and the time to continue the significant reform underway across both current services and in preparation for the new children’s hospital.
