Press Releases 2013

As Chairperson of the Board of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) I thank the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children for giving me the opportunity to address the Committee today. I am joined today by the Authority’s Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Marty Whelan.

Today is a milestone day for Ireland as the independent regulation of residential services for children and adults with disabilities begins nationwide. This will see an extension of public protection measures for those using our health and social care services.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has today published the report of its investigation into the safety, quality and standards of services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to patients, including pregnant women, at risk of clinical deterioration, including those provided in University Hospital Galway (UHG) and as reflected in, among other things, the care and treatment provided to Savita Halappanavar.

Introduction

On behalf of the Health Information and Quality Authority, I would like to thank the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for giving me the opportunity to discuss with you today our programme of work. I am joined by Phelim Quinn, our Director of Regulation, and Marty Whelan, our Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has today published a new national standard on what should be included in a patient’s discharge summary information.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has published the results of a health technology assessment (HTA) of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for people with severe peripheral arterial disease who are not candidates for revascularisation via angioplasty or surgical intervention. IPC has been proposed as a treatment that can be used in addition to best medical management and is designed to increase blood flow in the lower limbs to relieve pain, promote wound healing and decrease the risk of amputation.IPC devices consist of an inflatable cuff, or series of cuffs, that wrap around the affected leg and apply controlled cyclical compression for a set duration.

New guidelines on collecting important health and social care information have been published today by the Health Information and Quality Authority.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has today published its first report under the Authority’s new inspection regime aimed at strengthening and improving Ireland’s child protection and welfare services.

A series of health technology assessments (HTAs) published today by the Health Information and Quality Authority recommend the introduction of referral and treatment guidelines for certain scheduled surgical procedures.

World Health Day is celebrated this Sunday, 7 April, to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. HIQA is committed to encouraging and supporting health and social care services to promote better health and well being for the Irish population.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has announced details of its new inspection regime aimed at radically strengthening and improving Ireland’s child protection and welfare services.

For the first time in Ireland the State’s children and families services will be subject to independent inspection and monitoring.

Draft recommended referral thresholds for a number of surgical procedures have been published for consultation today by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).