October 30, 2024
Galway-Based M&A Activity is Truly Thriving
In a special report in The Business Post, Looking West: Galway City & County, recent sector activity and emerging trends in the region are considered from the vantage point of...
The new Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023, (“2023 Act”) marks a significant shift in Ireland’s healthcare landscape. The legislation introduces mandatory disclosure requirements for healthcare providers in the event of certain serious safety incidents, aiming to instigate cultural change, enhance learning and embed openness and transparency across the healthcare system in Ireland, which is a very welcome development.
Background
Before the 2023 Act, voluntary disclosure was governed by Part 4 of the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017, which came into effect on September 22, 2018. The 2017 Act, building upon the groundwork laid by the Health Service Executive’s (“HSE”) Open Disclosure Policy 2013, established the initial framework for open disclosure in the Irish health service.
Key Amendments
The following important amendments to the 2017 Act were introduced at Committee and Report Stages in the Dáil:
Review of Act Mechanism
Patient Screening Review
Nursing Home Incident Review
Notifiable Incidents
Open Disclosure and Liability
Non-Compliance
Conclusion
The introduction of the 2023 Act and the incorporation of mandatory disclosure requirements signals a positive shift in both patient care and the healthcare provider’s approach. The legislation’s broader objectives are meaningful in seeking to transform the prevailing culture, foster transparent communication about serious incidents and ensure better accountability in the Irish healthcare sector.
For those interested in a comprehensive understanding, the complete text of the new Patient Safety (Notifiable Incident and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 is available here. This document outlines the legal framework that underpins the evolving landscape of patient safety in Ireland.
Further Information
For further information on making a claim for spinal injury in Ireland, please contact Avril Scally or Nicholas Moore in our award-winning Medical Negligence Team.
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This article was first published in the Winter 2023 edition of the Spinal Injuries Ireland Magazine.
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