On World Patient Safety Day, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is publishing its Corporate Plan 2025–2027. 

The Corporate Plan 2025–2027 outlines HIQA’s core values and a clear direction for the organisation over the next three years. Shaped by its experience as the independent regulator and feedback from stakeholders, the Corporate Plan sets out the steps HIQA will take to fulfil its vision for health and social care services to consistently deliver excellent standards of care and the best possible outcomes for the people of Ireland. 

HIQA Chief Executive Angela Fitzgerald said: “Since we were established in 2007, HIQA’s journey has been one of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration. Through setting standards and regulating services, we have driven improvements in the quality of care delivered, making a significant impact on the lives of people using health and social care services. Our advice and evidence has informed key decisions on the provision of health services, including in public health and vaccination programmes, and driven the health information agenda in Ireland.

“Over the last 18 years, our remit has expanded into diverse areas as successive governments have entrusted us to take on new roles, and it is envisioned that our functions will continue to grow in the lifetime of this Corporate Plan. It is essential that we remain agile and stay willing to evolve and develop in response to a changing environment. We are open to critically evaluating ourselves and our impact. As a learning organisation, we are committed to continually reviewing our practices and keeping people at the centre of what we do to ensure we continue to make a meaningful impact across the health and social care sector.”

The Plan marks the last Corporate Plan developed by HIQA under the stewardship of Chairperson Pat O’Mahony, who passed away last month. 

Reflecting on the role of Professor Pat O’Mahony in this Corporate Plan, Ms Angela Fitzgerald said: “Professor Pat O’Mahony spearheaded this Corporate Plan as Chairperson of our Board. On behalf of HIQA, I want to pay tribute to his leadership, vision and deep humanity during his time with HIQA and his impact on our work. Pat championed putting people at the centre of what we do and for striving to make a real difference in the lives of those who use health and social care services. He challenged us to push the boundaries beyond compliance in regulation, to keep the focus on those using services and to strive for excellence in our standard setting and evidence synthesis work. By focusing on enabling the best possible outcomes for the people of Ireland, this Plan is an important part of Pat’s legacy.”

HIQA’s Corporate Plan 2025-2027 outlines how, over next three years, HIQA will work to enable improved outcomes for people using services through regulation, setting standards and providing evidence to inform decision making, delivering value and impact for stakeholders. In this Plan, HIQA commits to being a sustainable and inclusive organisation that fosters a positive organisational culture. 

Ms Angela Fitzgerald continued: “Critical to the success of achieving the positive outcomes for people using health and social care services set out in our Plan, are technology and our people. We have developed strategies to support us in these areas to ensure that we leverage new digital and data capabilities and developments, while focusing on the critical role that culture plays in maintaining and supporting our people within the organisation. We remain committed to quality improvement, and will continue to evaluate the impact of our work on the people we serve.

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Department of Health; Department of Children, Disability and Equality; other Government departments; service providers; people using services; their relatives and advocates; and the wider public to drive safe high-quality care for everyone.”

Ends.

Further Information:
Marty Whelan, HIQA’s Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
085 805 5202
mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to Editor: 

• The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent authority established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland.
• Professor Pat O’Mahony was Chairperson of HIQA’s Board since 2018, following his appointment by the Minister for Health. Pat led HIQA through a period of significant growth as its remit and functions expanded over this time frame, including expansion of HIQA’s function to provide evidence and advice to inform decision-making, and the monitoring of private hospitals through the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023. Pat championed a collaborative and sustainable approach to HIQA’s expansion, keeping a focus on the impact of our work on people using services.
• The outcomes HIQA wants to achieve by 2027 are:
  • HIQA’s standard setting, monitoring and regulation of quality and safety are enabling improved outcomes for the people of Ireland
  • HIQA is influencing and enabling service providers to deliver improved service user experiences and better outcomes
  • HIQA provides evidence to inform policy decisions and practice developments across health and social care services and at a population level
  • HIQA is delivering value and impact for all stakeholders through agile and collaborative ways of working, efficient systems, fit-for-purpose structures, and appropriate governance
  • HIQA is a sustainable and inclusive organisation
  • HIQA is an employer of choice through its staff supports, opportunities and positive organisational culture.
• HIQA’s values are:
  • Human Rights - We promote and champion human rights
  • People Centred - We value and respect the needs of the people we work with and for
  • Fair, Objective and Equitable - We are fair, objective and proportionate in our work
  • Open and Accountable - We communicate how we work and the outcomes of what we do
  • Excellence - We strive to constantly innovate and seek to improve the quality of our work
  • Quality - We support continual quality improvement for people who use services
  • Collaborative - We work in partnership with all colleagues and stakeholders.
• HIQA consulted with its staff and external stakeholders on its draft Corporate Plan 2025–2027, which gave stakeholders and the wider public the opportunity to share their views and inform the development of the final Corporate Plan. A consultation period was held between 25 October and 6 December 2024. HIQA received 31 submissions to its public consultation.