Question from Deputy Louis O'Hara - PQ 46196-26

To ask the Minister for Health whether she is aware of concerns surrounding accreditation standards at a hospital (We have been contacted in relation to ongoing concerns surrounding the accreditation of a number of hospitals with The Society of clinical perfusion of GB and Ireland. I understand that this society is the governing body of all perfusionists in Ireland and that there have been ongoing issues in which this body’s standards have not been adhered to by Galway University Hospital and that the society have threatened to pull the hospital’s accreditation risking the cancellation of patient surgeries. I seek to understand whether the Minister is aware of this issue, the actions her Department is undertaking to address this issue and whether patient procedures will be impacted.); the actions she is taking to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter.