HSE declines to publish internal review

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has declined to publish an interval review concerning the death of a psychiatric patient at the Ennis Acute Psychiatric Unit, despite a request from a local councillor.

 

Clare County Councillor Brian Meaney asked that the HSE provide a redacted copy of the report on the recent investigation following the death of Kevin Manifold at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis.
Councillor Meaney said he was disappointed with the HSE’s decision not to publish even a redacted version of its investigation, which he claims is in the public interest.

“I feel it is necessary to ensure public confidence in our health services that are suffering from diminished resources and that all reports relating to the welfare of patients, most especially reports on investigations where there has been a death should be made public.

“Recognising that there are patient and staff confidentiality issues which is why I requested a redacted version of the report be made available,” he said.

An inquest last May into the death of Kevin Manifold, 60, with an address at 47 Aidan Park, Shannon concluded that he died on February 27, 2011 at the acute unit of Ennis hospital due to self inflicted asphyxiation. It attached eight recommendations made by the HSE to its verdict.

The court heard that Mr Manifold had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and had been living with his twin brother prior to being admitted to the acute unit in Ennis on February 25, 2011.

HSE Mid-West primary continuing and community care area manager, Bernard Gloster confirmed it was not the intention of the HSE to publish any internal review of this case.

Mr Gloster noted this matter was the subject of a hearing by the county coroner, Isobel O’Dea. In the context of the hearing, eight recommendations made by the internal review were put before the coroner and adopted into the proceedings of the court at the request of the HSE.

The original internal review drafted a number of recommendations following clinical review were determined to constitute eight specific recommendations, which were provided to Councillor Meaney.

“I trust that the provision of these recommendations and the ongoing work of the service at their implementation is satisfactory. It is important to stress that in various incidents internal reviews are generally conducted and recommendations are, where appropriate integrated into the overall practice changes and developments within the services.

“This is not exclusive to mental health,” said Mr Gloster.