HIQA to review gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital

Date of publication:

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has announced that it is to carry out a review of governance arrangements for gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital.



The review, which commences today, aims to ensure the Health Service Executive (HSE), Saolta University Health Care Group and the hospital are implementing recommendations of an external review into gynaecology service failures at Letterkenny University Hospital.



Sean Egan, HIQA’s Head of Healthcare, said: “It is essential that women accessing gynaecology services are assured that the service is safe and that they are being protected and safeguarded. This review will assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the governance and oversight arrangements to ensure that high-quality gynaecology services are provided at Letterkenny University Hospital.”



HIQA’s review will include an on-site inspection of the service; interviews with key personnel at hospital, hospital group and national HSE level; and a review of documentation.



The review will be completed and published later this year.



Read the full terms of reference and guide to the review at the link at the top of the page.



Ends.



Further information:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

085 805 5202, mwhelan@hiqa.ie



Notes to Editor:

  • The review will be conducted under section 8(1)(c) of the Health Act 2007, which outlines HIQA’s powers to monitor compliance with nationally mandated standards and advise the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive accordingly.
  • Concerns about gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital were first raised 2018. Following continued engagement by HIQA with the HSE, an external review into the totality of post-menopausal bleeding services within the gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital was commissioned by the HSE in 2019.
  • The external review, Letterkenny University Hospital: Review of the Gynaecology Service, with a particular focus on post-menopausal bleeding pathways was published in July 2020.