Joint statement from NI Health and Social Care (HSC) system leaders on the Urology Services Inquiry

NICON has worked directly with our HSC members to produce a joint statement on the publication of the Urology Services Inquiry report earlier today.

The statement reads as follows:

"The Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON), the membership body for statutory health and social care (HSC) organisations in NI, today notes the publication of the Urology Services Inquiry report. Our thoughts are with the patients and families who have been impacted. We also recognise this as an important milestone for the Southern Trust and the entire HSC system in Northern Ireland.

"The inquiry focused on patient safety and these recommendations will help all Trusts in Northern Ireland avoid repeating past mistakes to ensure that other patients do not suffer harm. Learning from this inquiry will inform continued improvement right across the HSC over the coming years.

"Over the last six years, the Southern Trust has initiated significant improvements in systems and structures of management, training, corporate governance, and clinical and social care governance. This learning has been shared, and colleagues across the HSC are committed to working together to strength arrangements across all services in Northern Ireland to minimise the risk of such failings occurring again.

"We acknowledge the further distress this report will cause for patients and families today. Their experiences remain central to how we take this work forward. Our thoughts remain with all those affected at this time."

What is the Urology Services Inquiry?

The Urology Services Inquiry was announced by the then Health Minister Robin Swann on 24 November 2020. The decision to establish a statutory public inquiry into urology services was made following a ‘lookback’ review of urology patients initiated by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. These concerns were related to a Consultant Urologist employed within the Southern Trust.

More information is available from the inquiry website. The inquiry report can be read here.

Please direct any media enquiries to Robyn Scott, NICON Policy & Communications Manager, on robyn.scott@niconfedhss.org.