Irish Medical Organisation

Lobbying Organisation Irish Medical Organisation

Date published 21 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Rising Cost of clinical negligence cases

Intended results Greater use of mediation and arbitration. Implementation of pre action -protocols and case management rules and periodic payment orders. A greater focus on prevention including adequate staffing levels and resources. Risk management and open disclosure processes are time consuming and must be appropriately resourced. The Open Disclosure process must be fit for purpose and promote a Just Culture. Appropriate supports must be provided for patients and staff. Understaffing and resourcing issues should be included in the disclosure process as well as any items previously raised on risk registers. Senior decision makers and budget holders should be held to account in the same way as the medical profession. The option of a no faults claims systems requires further examination. Multiple approaches exist in different jurisdictions eg Florida, France, New Zealand and Scandinavian countries Automatic entitlement to health and social services for people with disabilites

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Vanessa Hetherington, Assistant Director, Policy and International Affairs

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with the Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims and consider mechanisms to reduce costs

Submission (1)

Submission to the Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims and consider mechanisms to reduce costs

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Greg Dempsey Deputy Secretary General (Department of Health)