Hyponatraemia Inquiry: Department of Health set up staff team
Department working to implement Sir John O'Hara's recommendations
Last updated 31st Mar 2018
The Department of Health has confirmed it is taking 'concrete steps' to address the issues highlighted in a report on hyponatraemia related deaths.
An inquiry published by Sir John O'Hara in January into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland, found four were avoidable.
The condition is caused by a lack of sodium in the blood.
Adam Strain, Raychel Ferguson, Lucy Crawford and Conor Mitchell all died from issues linked to the condition, at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, between 1995 and 2003.
The deaths sparked an inquiry which lasted 14 years and delivered damning conclusions earlier this year.
The report criticised medical professionals and the health service and their response to the children's deaths.
Inquiry chair Sir John O'Hara made 96 recommendations, one of the most prominent was a duty of candour.
This would mean that health officials would have to give a "full and honest explanation" to loved ones in the event of failures in care.
The report states: "Where death or serious harm has been or may have been caused to a patient by an act or omission of the organisation, its staff, the patient (or duly authorised representative) should be informed of the incident and given a full and honest explanation of the circumstances."
Sir John O'Hara also suggested "criminal liability should attach to breach of this duty" and he said the Department of Health must issue "unequivocal guidance" to all trusts about how to meet the statutory duty.
On Friday, the Department said they were "progressing work on the establishment of a legal duty of candour," in line with the inquiry recommendations.
It also said it was "developing options papers to inform meaningful engagement with service users and other stakeholders for a Duty of Candour both on organisations and individuals."
According to the Department, a staff team has been established to address the issues highlighted by Sir John O'Hara.
Dr Paddy Woods, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, is the team’s Programme Director and is reporting directly to Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly on its work.
It is also working in line with the regulator RQIA "which will lead an independent assurance process overseeing implementation of the recommendations."
The Department also pledged to liaise regularly with families of the children whose deaths were the focus of the public Inquiry.