Madam, – The timing of the Hiqa inquiry into Mallow General Hospital is puzzling. On foot of the Ennis Report, hospitals in Cork and Kerry are undergoing a process of reconfiguration, not far from completion and implementation.
The role of Mallow hospital and how it delivers patient care will be radically altered. It seems to make no sense to inspect the services of the hospital when it is on the verge of such change. What can the purpose of an inquiry by Hiqa at this time be, when most of its likely recommendations are already about to be implemented? It is almost as if Hiqa wants to inspect the hospital while it still has a chance to make negative findings about another small hospital.
That elements of the media are credulous and compliant is disappointing but not a surprise. There is a belief within higher levels in the HSE that the solution to the problems of our hospital services is to close all small and medium sized hospitals.
Most people have long lost faith in the corporate HSE, but not thus far in Hiqa. That there is now a strong perception that Hiqa has become an implementation arm for HSE policy is deeply unsettling. – Yours, etc,