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PCC welcomes publication of Urology Services Inquiry Report

Meadhbha Monaghan, Chief Executive of the Patient and Client Council, has given an initial response to the publication of the Urology Service Inquiry Report, stating:

“My initial thoughts are with the patients and families who suffered serious harm due to the shortcomings in Mr O’Brien’s practice.  The Inquiry identified systemic failures in governance, oversight, leadership, culture and Board accountability which created significant risks to patient safety.

 “This is the second public inquiry to report within a week, which evidences failures to consistently engage with patients and the public in a way that is meaningful, and the results of this failure.

“PCC welcomes the inquiry’s findings and recommendations in a number of areas. In particular we recognise and support the finding that ‘the evidence presented demonstrated how listening to patients can give rise to meaningful learning about quality’ and crucially that ‘Unless the involvement of patients becomes more embedded in the way systems operate, then it is likely that change may continue to be inadequate’.

“PCC welcomes the recommendation that a specific programme of work to strengthen patient involvement, improve communication, and ensure families are treated as partners in their care is undertaken. This recommendation is linked to culture, access to independent advocacy and the importance of collecting and using accessible patient experience data and intelligence, as part of governance and assurance mechanisms.

“PCC also welcomes the inquiry’s reflections that there should be a statutory right to independent advocacy services in Northern Ireland. The report stated: A statutory right to advocacy for patients would help to alleviate some of the issues experienced by those patients who spoke to us and ensure that the recommendation of the IHRD for a fully funded advocacy service was delivered.

“PCC has been consistently making the case for a partnership approach with the public to be developed, publishing a People to Partners Report in October 2025. This report has been positively received by the Department of Health and the HSC system. We consider that developing a People as Partners Strategic Framework for the HSC System would help address many of the issues identified in this and other inquiry reports.

“The PCC will give the report’s findings and recommendations further and careful consideration.

“Low levels of public trust have been further damaged this week. Whilst recognising the financial pressures the system is currently under and the ongoing work of the Department of Health and the HSC system to improve, the response to the Urology and MAH Inquiries must be ambitious, systemic and swift”.



Tags: PCC NEWS By PCC at 06/25/2026

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