The Dáil approved the Patient Safety Bill last night – the legislation is to ensure the mandatory open disclosure of adverse incidents during the care of patients and was a key demand of the late Vicky Phelan following the Cervical Check scandal.
The Bill was first introduced in 2019 – it will now go to the Seanad for approval.
The Bill is intended to give patients greater transparency in the wake of several legal cases taken by patients or their family following concerns about their care.
Tipperary Labour TD Alan Kelly describes the Patient Safety Bill as “the most important legislation” that he has been involved in delivering. Sinn Féin’s Health spokesperson David Cullinane thanked Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly for the cross-party cooperation to get the legislation passed – the Bill was deferred in December as TDs felt it could be improved.
Minister for Health Steven Donnelly says the law needs to be fully implemented once it has been signed by the President following consideration by the Seanad.
