Whistleblowers to get protection in patient safety plan
HEALTH staff who "blow the whistle" in the interests of patient safety will get full legal protection from next month.
The new whistleblower safeguards are included in a series of proposals to reduce risks to patients, which will include a new licensing regime for hospitals and other facilities.
Unveiling the Cabinet-approved action plan yesterday, Health Minister Mary Harney said some hospitals would not meet the licensing standards, which are due to come into force in two years.
They are on notice to improve safety measures as the necessary legislation is drawn up.
"The safety of patients must always be at the heart of what we do," Ms Harney insisted.
Another measure sanctioned is the independent inspection of private and public nursing homes from July, by the independent Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
Ms Harney said the measures would be cost neutral because the safeguards would reduce the number of compensation claims.
But patient groups said it wouldn't be possible to achieve best security for patients without substantial additional investment.
Commenting on protection for whistleblowers, Ms Harney said: "They will be be protected from penalisation in the workplace, from being sued and from any of their reports being sourced through Freedom of Information requests or [by] legal teams."
The measures were welcomed by the Medical Council, the Pharmaceutical Society and the Independent Hospital Association of Ireland (IHAI), which represents private hospitals
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
