Ombudsman Critical of HSE

Ombudsman published her annual report.


The Ombudsman's office received a record number of complaints last year, with 2,873 people contacting the office.
Read the report
Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said the volume of complaints to her office last year show significant numbers of people continue to have problems with public service bodies.
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Ms O'Reilly described complaints in relation to social services and public healthcare as 'shocking and unacceptable'.
Launching the annual report, Ms O'Reilly cited a number of cases.
She described how a woman was denied pain relief while giving birth in Waterford Regional Hospital; a Wexford respite patient who was confined to bed because no seat was available and had bruising on her body when she returned home; and the 'abysmal' care of a cancer patient in Beaumont Hospital.
He died ten days after no action was taken after his daughter's complaint on a Bank Holiday that he was vomiting faecal matter.
The Ombudsman also highlighted that the Department of the Agriculture, Fisheries & Food rejected her findings and recommendations about the controversial Lost At Sea scheme.
It was the first time that has happened since she assumed office in 2003.
The Ombudsman Annual Report was submitted to the Dáil and Seanad this morning.


HSE reject the assertion that they act in a culture of secrecy.