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Minister for Health welcomes Oireachtas committee on Health's pre-legislative examination of Patient Safety Bill

Health Minister Simon Harris has welcomed the Oireachtas committee on Health's pre-legislative examination of the Patient Safety Bill, which began this morning.

This legislation will provide for mandatory open disclosure in respect of serious patient safety incidents.

The Patient Safety Bill will also provide for mandatory reporting of serious events to the appropriate regulatory authority, such as HIQA or the Mental Health Commission.

The Minister said:

Today is a really important day as the Patient Safety Bill goes to Oireachtas Health Committee for scrutiny.

This landmark law will provide for mandatory open disclosure for serious reportable events in our health service, that will apply both to individual health practitioners as well as organisations providing healthcare. This Bill will be a significant milestone in embedding a culture of change within the Irish health service.

The Minister looks forward to the Bill completing pre-legislative stage and progressing the legislation, in line with the recommendations contained in the recent report by Dr Gabriel Scally.