A recent internal review conducted in 2021 and finalized in 2022 has shed light on serious cultural issues and potential mismanagement of waiting lists at a Dublin children's hospital, according to a summary released by Children's Health Ireland (CHI).

The review, which remains unpublished in full due to legal advice, has raised concerns about the negative staff culture at the hospital, with leaked information pointing to a challenging environment that could jeopardize patient safety.

Interviews with 45 individuals at the hospital revealed a slow pace of change, lack of governance, and robust processes, influenced by strong personalities within departments. This led to poor working relationships, a high attrition rate among support staff due to bullying, and a significant risk due to overreliance on one individual for a critical service.

Medical trainees also reported an unfavorable learning environment, prompting concerns about reputation and resulting in no new trainees being accepted in 2022. The report highlighted how a negative culture can impact service delivery, department dynamics, and ultimately put patients at risk.

Leadership and governance were also criticized in the review, pointing out a lack of strong site leadership, good governance, poor operational oversight, and accountability. The report emphasized the need for addressing challenging behaviors among staff and resolving personal issues between employees.

Furthermore, the review revealed inequities in patient management across CHI Hospitals and identified issues with National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) funded waiting list initiatives. CHI has responded by hiring an external facilitator to improve culture and teamwork, as well as implementing a more robust process for NTPF funded waiting lists.

In a statement, CHI expressed its commitment to transparency and accountability, acknowledging the concerns raised in the report and outlining the actions taken to address them. While recognizing the need for improvement, CHI also highlighted examples of kindness, teamwork, and clinical excellence within its hospitals.