HSE must take seat on Tallaght Hospital board immediately – O’Connor

Fianna Fáil Dublin South West TD Charlie O’Connor has today demanded that the HSE immediately appoint a respected individual to the board of Tallaght Hospital.

“It is astonishing that the HSE has never taken up this vital post.  I was on the board of Tallaght Hospital many years ago and from the time the HSE was established it was entitled to appoint a board member and it never has,” said Deputy O’Connor, who is a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.

“It’s clear that the HSE has abdicated responsibility here.  We may never know if the scandal of unread x-rays at Tallaght Hospital could have been discovered sooner if the HSE had its eye on the ball, but it certainly makes me wonder.  Tallaght Hospital gets €200 million in funding from the HSE and yet the HSE feels it doesn’t need a person on the board to ensure the hospital is running properly and spending that money correctly,” added Deputy O’Connor.

“I have written to Chairman of the HSE (Mr. Liam Downey) to ask him to explain why the HSE has never sought to have a representative on the board of one of the largest hospitals in the country and when the HSE will rectify this disgraceful situation,” concluded Deputy O’Connor.