HSE Denies Confiscating Donated Equipment At Midlands Hospital

Monday, 27 April 2020 17:11

Offaly Councillor Ken Smollen had said that the donated items were confiscated by management.

The HSE is denying that electronic devices donated to a Midlands hospital were confiscated by management.

Councillor Ken Smollen alleged that an I-Pad and a number of bluetooth radios given to Tullamore Regional Hospital for patients whose family members were unable to visit were taken.

In a statement, the HSE says their use is being considered as part of communication and engagement initiatives for inpatients and potentially within the ICU setting and for outreach support.

And that challenges include access to safe ICT platforms, adherence to Digital policies within the organisation and adherence to Infection, Prevention Control Guidelines.

STATEMENT IN FULL:

Hospitals are responding to the Covid-19 pandemic which is an unknown, ever evolving global crisis.

The Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore has been kindly donated a huge range of gifts and support since the very beginning. Each and every donation is catalogued and acknowledged. These donations mean a lot to our frontline and management teams, as its shows the solidarity within our communities in this very difficult time.

A local donation of 1 Ipad, 5 radios and 1 headset was received by ward staff. The use of these donations is being considered as part of our communication and engagement initiatives for our inpatients and potentially within the ICU setting and for outreach support. The challenges being addressed include access to safe ICT platforms, adherence to the ICT Digital policies within the organisation and adherence to Infection, Prevention Control Guidelines. Many other Hospitals in recent weeks are using these technologies and we are learning from them.

The Hospital would like to again take the opportunity to graciously thank those businesses in the community who are being so supportive of our response efforts and our frontline staff.

The Hospital refutes the suggestion that these donations were confiscated. This is not factually correct.