Wednesday 2nd March 2005: Speaking today at the first meeting of the Board of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority, Mr. Pat McGrath, Chairperson said "the Health Information and Quality Authority will play a crucial role in promoting delivery of the highest quality and most efficient health services to people in every part of the country".

Addressing the Tánaiste and the Board in Cork, Mr. McGrath said that he believed that the Authority will provide the common currency of efficiency, quality and effectiveness for the health sector, to inform and assist decision-making at all levels, national, local and individual.

He stressed that The Health Information and Quality Authority will ensure that best practice is advanced nationwide, rapidly, effectively and consistently, acting as a resource for planners, healthcare professionals, patients and their carers to help them make decisions about treatment and healthcare.

The Health Information and Quality Authority will provide a "stamp of assurance" for the public and the taxpayers' that the highest possible standards of safety and systems are adopted by and embedded within the sector and that value for money in the delivery of health and personal social services is guaranteed.

Mr. McGrath said after the meeting, that the Board had agreed that as a priority it will actively pursue the recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer for the new Authority.

The interim Board will work in partnership with the expertise of the wider healthcare community including, healthcare professionals, patients and carers, industry, the voluntary sector and the academic community. The interim Health Information and Quality Authority will complement and inform the work of the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children in their respective roles of managing delivery of the health services and strategic health policy formulation and evaluation. The Board has established a committee to oversee and manage the consultation process with key stakeholders.

The responsibilities of the Health Information and Quality Authority will be built around three related functions (i) developing health information; (ii) promoting and implementing quality assurance programmes nationally; and (iii) overseeing health technology assessment. The structure of the organisation will reflect these functions.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D., today (28 January 05) announced the Board of the new interim Health Information and Quality Authority (iHIQA).

The Board of the iHIQA will be responsible for preparing the administrative and organisational plans for the early establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority under primary legislation.

A key policy aim of the Health Strategy is to deliver high quality services that are based on evidence-supported best practice. The Health Information and Quality Authority is being established to advance this aim.

"I am delighted to announce membership of the Board of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority as it represents an important step in the further development of a high quality, safe and effective health care system which will provide a better service for patients." The Tanaiste said, "The Board of the interim Authority reflects the broad range of key competencies and backgrounds required to support and lead the work of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority."

The responsibilities of the Health Information and Quality Authority will be built around three related functions:

• Developing health information
• Promoting and implementing quality assurance programmes nationally
• Overseeing health technology assessment

The Health Information and Quality Authority will play a central role in developing health and personal social services in Ireland and will help ensure that quality of care is promoted throughout our health system and that patients receive the best possible outcomes within the available resources.