The HSE says it regrets any upset caused to patients and their families, following the publication of a review into four cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or keyhole gall bladder surgery, at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.
The HSE expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of one of the patients, who is now deceased.
The review found ‘no negligent errors in surgical technique were identified in relation to the practice of laparoscopic surgery by any of the surgeons involved.’
However, there were some professional practice issues, most notably record keeping and patient communication, where it found that there is room for marked improvement.
Surgical services at the Navan hospital were restricted, as a precautionary measure, while the review was carried out.
The HSE says it accepts in full the findings and recommendations of this report.
One of the findings is that ‘a small stand alone surgical department at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, is not viable in terms of expertise or clinical governance, and requires to be part of a larger surgical department.’
Another recommendation is that ‘a proper clinical governance structure will need to be put in place prior to the phased re-introduction of surgical services.’
The HSE says an implementation group is now being established by Louth Meath Hospital Group to oversee and to ensure all recommendations are acted on and addressed in a timely manner.
