OUR LADY’S Children’s Hospital in Crumlin has moved to reassure the public about its procedures and systems in the wake of concerns raised by a Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry committee.
The committee had raised its concerns after a two-year-old girl had an unnecessary tongue-tie operation at the hospital in 2010.
The hospital yesterday apologised to the patient and her family for the error and “for the distress and upset it has caused them”.
Our Lady’s said that, following the incident, in April 2010, a review took place and the hospital implemented improvements in its practices.
“As a result, the booking and coding process for this surgical procedure has been improved to remove any ambiguity,” said the hospital. It added that it wanted to reassure the public that it had “robust systems and procedures for the management of surgical patients and a correct-site surgery policy is in place”.
Our Lady’s also said it provided the Medical Council with all information sought prior to the hearing.
“The hospital was not invited to participate in any part of the hearing and therefore did not have an opportunity to respond directly to any concerns expressed to, or by, the Medical Council regarding the hospital’s policies or procedures,” it said.
“The hospital will consider in full the findings of the Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry when they are published and respond accordingly.”
