In light the of the publication of the ‘Summary of Findings, Recommendations and Updates regarding the examination of a particular clinical department in Children’s Health Ireland,’ the Irish Association of Social Workers supports the calls of families and family representative groups for meaningful reform within Children's Health Ireland (CHI).
The preventable delays in sick children accessing healthcare due to service failure to follow existing National Purchase Treatment Funded standards makes for difficult reading. It raises the most serious of questions for families and for anyone who cares about the well- being of vulnerable children.
It is deeply traumatic for families to learn that CHI report found that negative culture can impact service delivery, staff experience and has the potential to put children at risk. We now need to know if any children did, in fact, experience harm, to what extent and what has been done since.
Irish social workers stand for social justice, and we stand with children and families who have lost trust. We call on Government to act and support:
The well-being of healthcare professionals is intrinsically linked to patient outcomes and the overall quality of healthcare. Studies show that when healthcare professionals experience high levels of stress, burnout, and mental health challenges, it negatively impacts patient care, leading to increased medical errors, diminished quality of care, and decreased patient satisfaction*.
It is hard to understand therefore, how any health care professional could work safely or effectively within the harmful workplace culture highlighted in the CHI report. The report described poor working relationships, a lack of governance structures and a learning culture so broken that a medical training body did not support the placement of Specialist Registrar (SPR) trainees in CHI in 2022, given the experience of previous trainees.
High rates of staff were reported to have left the service due to bullying. The report highlights that CHI management were aware of the challenging behaviours and failed to prevent them from reoccurring.
While the IASW notes the CHI has stated that reforms have put in place, it is vital now that independent eyes review the progress made, and validate what has been done, what is being done and what else must be done to ensure sick children receive safe care.
Children and families deserve nothing less than this.
*Hall et al., 2016 – "Healthcare Staff Wellbeing, Burnout and Patient Safety" (Health Foundation Report, UK)
