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Durkan: Investigation into pseudomonas must be as rigorous as a public inquiry

SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said it is vital that the team charged with investigating the pseudomonas outbreak are given equal powers of access to information as would be available to professionals carrying out a full public inquiry.

Tue 31st January

Speaking after questioning the Health Minister on the matter, Mr Durkan said: “It is crucial that Professor Troop’s team have the same authority, access and powers to get information as someone carrying out a full public inquiry.

“The independence of this investigation is also vitally important. The message from senior management in the Trusts and the Department of Health since the beginning of the pseudomonas outbreak has been portrayed in the media as being very defensive.

“Health Service workers, particularly those working in the neo-natal units affected are under immense pressure at present, and their concerns and recommendations on how to avoid these tragic incidents occurring again must be voiced through this report.

“The public want to know – and parents need to know – what happened to these babies who so tragically lost their lives to what should be a preventable disease.

 

“While the families affected will never get closure, it is vitally important that they get comfort – comfort that all was done that could be done and the public must be assured that this cannot happen again.

 

“We need a public acknowledgement of any failings in our hospitals through this investigation and both assurances and action plans to combat any recurrence.”

 

Mark H Durkan

Mark H Durkan MLA

Email markh.durkan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Tel 028 7136 5516

Press Office

Tel 028 90 42 1837

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