Multiple HR and ICT deficiencies identified during a Medical Council inspection of CHI sites underpin the need for the new National Children’s Hospital to open without further delay, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice.
Deputy Rice said:
“Today’s report highlights a number of concerning issues at CHI hospitals, where creaking ICT systems were found to be hindering clinical service delivery and HR systems are a constant source of frustration for staff. The inspection revealed that doctors needed multiple log-ins to complete routine tasks, including checking test results or discharging patients, and that ineffective HR processes were distracting frontline staff from patient care.
“There were also reports of inappropriate behaviour, unaddressed historic cases of unprofessional behaviour, and continuing bullying and harassment identified at one site.
“Last June, CHI told the Oireachtas Health Committee that issues previously identified in an internal report – which included allegations of bullying and poor governance – had been addressed. However, it is clear from the Medical Council’s inspection that serious problems within the organisation still remain.
“In fact, the report noted that there was a perception that little or no action was taken when complaints related to ongoing bulling and harassment were made.
“It’s deeply disappointing that CHI’s latest response to another damning report seems to amount to little more than ‘nothing to see here’ – even though the same issues keep coming up.
“It’s clear that CHI will continue to lurch from one crisis to the next until such a time that the new National Children’s Hospital opens. But rather than continuing to blame the contractor BAM in the media for repeated delays, the Minister for Health needs to stop acting like a commentator and take some responsibility for completing the project.”
January 21st, 2026