The Verita investigation, its terms of reference and issues and costs relating to the exclusion of a Senior Consultant Gynaecologist

1240/5(4725)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARTIN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2009

Question

As Verita's terms of reference require it to "review the main actions taken by the Health and Social Services in response to the death of Mrs Elizabeth Rourke including its own interim internal investigation. This will include establishing whether or not there are any significant omissions to the investigation and, if so, exploring these" -

1. W a s one of the main actions taken' the decision to exclude a Senior ConsultantGynaecologist?
2. W o uld the Minister give the reasons for the exclusion and the reasons why the ConsultantGynaecologist is still excluded?
3. W i ll the Minister give an updatedbreakdownof the cost incurredbyHealth and Social Servicestocover the salary and incidental costs of the excludedConsultantGynaecologisttogether with the cost of the salaries and incidental coststocover the work notbeing undertaken by him?
4. H a s the hospital's own interim internal investigation (also known as the Serious Untoward Incident Investigation) been concludedand when will the report be published?
5. W ill the Minister explain the purpose and terms of reference of the proposed Hutchinson investigation/review and give the cost of this proposed investigation, including the funds already expended ontherelated court case?

Answer

1. I can confirm that one of the main actions taken, following the eventsof the 17th October 2006,wasto exclude a SeniorConsultant.
2. The exclusion of a memberof staff is not covered within Verita'stermsof reference.
3. I can confirm that the costs incurred in covering the work not being undertaken by the excluded Consultant has, since October2006,been calculated as £634,000.
4. The hospital'sown internal investigation, knowas a Serious UntowardIncident Investigation (SUI),was halted upon the instruction of the Law Officers so as not to impede the criminal investigations. Subsequently,and immediately following the Royal Court trial, itwasdeemedmoreappropriate that an external investigation be commissioned and this is beingundertaken by Verita.
5. The termsof reference of the Hutchinsonenquiry are private and confidential as they relate toan employee forwhom I have a duty ofcare. It is not possible to predict accurately whatthe costs will be, but I will return with more details at an appropriatetime.