William Fry hosted the Healthcare Conference on Thursday 14 May. Over 100 healthcare professionals, healthcare managers and representatives of medical organisations attended to discuss how to Manage Quality in Healthcare, improving patient care whilst lowering risk and addressing the rising costs of professional indemnity insurance.

Opened by Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, T.D., the event brought together members of the legal profession and those working in the healthcare sector to discuss how to ensure best quality patient care and a potential new system for the management of clinical negligence cases.  

Ciaran Breen, Director of the State Claims Agency told the audience that the current tort system is no longer fit for purpose to deal with medical negligence cases and that he was supportive of a new case management system.  He called on hospitals to operate a policy of open disclosure.

Speakers also included Fergus Clancy, CEO of Mater Private Healthcare, John Babb, a Consultant with Hay Group and Fiona Barry, Partner & Head of the Clinical Advisory Group at William Fry.

In January of this year, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children heard from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association that clinical indemnity costs had doubled for many specialties in recent years, with an increase of 40% in 2014 alone.  The IHCA claimed this rapid increase was forcing consultants out of the private sector to look for work elsewhere and called for urgent reform of the law in this area.

Addressing the audience, Fergus Clancy said: “Improvements in quality and patient care can only be delivered when there is a focus on corporate and clinical governance at the top of an organisation, combined with an engaged staff.  This can be achieved when hospitals have the right mix of management and clinicians in leadership roles, ensuring we have the right expertise developing governance and creating an environment for patient safety and satisfaction.”

John Babb, Consultant at Hay Group said “The industry and its representative bodies need to ensure we are providing the right support and training to help clinicians make the transition to leadership roles and that the roles should be structured to allow for a balance between the dual requirements of clinical practice and leadership. To attract the highest calibre of candidates, we need to ensure that a clinical leadership role is viewed as a positive career option.”

Fiona Barry, Partner at William Fry and Head of the Clinical Advisory Group said: “Managing quality in healthcare has never been more relevant than it is today, with a continued increased focus on patient outcomes and patient care. It is important to include all stakeholders in the discussion around quality, and we were delighted to hear at the Conference not only from those involved in the treatment of patients, but also those involved in managing healthcare services and standards, and those leading patient focused outcomes.”

Michael Turner, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Health	Ciarán Breen, Director, State Claims Agency	Fergus Clancy, CEO, Mater Private Healthcare	John Babb,   Consultant, Hay Group
Bryan Bourke, Managing Partner, William Fry		Fiona Barry, Partner, William Fry