Calls to publish all CUH communications amid staffing row

There are growing calls for all communications between the HSE, Government, and Cork University Hospital (CUH) to be published amid continuing controversy over staffing concerns raised by the hospital's chief executive.

CUH has faced intense scrutiny since August, when chief executive Jennifer Kearney wrote to the HSE warning of a shortfall of more than 1,000 staff and raising concerns about patient safety as winter approaches.

Her letter was leaked to the media. 

At a meeting shortly after this letter was leaked to the media, HSE South West chief Andy Phillips warned of possible “performance management” action. 

He said the offices of Taoiseach Micheál Martin and health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill had instructed him to speak to Ms Kearney.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin denied this, and Mr Phillips has since apologised, saying no such instruction had been made to him.

Mr Martin had previously told the Dáil that Mr Phillips had not referred to any instructions from the Taoiseach's office. However, after a recording of the meeting emerged in which Mr Phillips said he had been asked to have "very specific" conversations with CUH management, the Taoiseach's office said Mr Martin had based his comments on a draft statement prepared by Mr Phillips.

Ms Carroll MacNeill has repeatedly rejected suggestions that patient safety is being compromised at CUH and has stated that the hospital had hired twice as many people as had been budgeted for. 

At the Fine Gael ard fheis held in University College Cork over the weekend, she said she would have no hesitation in recommending CUH to a sick relative, praising the standard of care at the hospital.

Ms Carroll MacNeill also said there was “no question” that Ms Kearney had been “punished” after raising concerns about staffing levels.

Nine clinical directors at CUH wrote to Mr Martin recently about ongoing staffing issues. 

Ms Laura Harmon said Ms Kearney had raised serious concerns about staffing shortages and patient safety at CUH which  deserve "urgent attention and a constructive response from senior HSE management".

She said: “We need a clear account from the HSE, from the Taoiseach, from the Minister for Health, and from CUH as to whether or not there was a level of political interference in how the HSE regional boss Andy Philips communicated with CUH’s Jennifer Kearney.” 

She said that all information should be published, and the HSE must clarify whether Ms Kearney was "subjected to inappropriate pressure after raising concerns".

“Hospital leaders and healthcare professionals must be able to speak openly about patient safety concerns without fear of intimidation or professional repercussions,” she said.

“This controversy must not distract from the original issue: serious staffing concerns at Cork University Hospital and the need to ensure that patients and healthcare workers have the resources they need.”