HIQA establishes COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group to support evidence-based response to COVID-19

Date of publication:

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today announced details of its new structures to provide evidence-based advice and support to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

Earlier this month, the Government announced a move towards a sustainable response to the public health emergency. In response to requests from NPHET, HIQA now provides evidence-based advice directly to NPHET.

Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Director of Health Technology Assessment and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Since March 2020, HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment Directorate has been providing research evidence to support the work of NPHET, NPHET Expert Advisory Group, other NPHET subgroups and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as part of the public health response to COVID-19.”

“This structural change sees HIQA taking the lead on developing evidence-based advice to inform public health policy, advice and practice in the context of COVID-19. To do this, we have set up a dedicated evidence synthesis team and a COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. This work is in line with our functions under Section 8 of Health Act 2007.”

HIQA’s advice to NPHET is informed by research evidence developed by HIQA’s COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team, with expert input from HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. The COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group is a multidisciplinary group, comprising nominated representatives from the relevant clinical specialities and areas of expertise, methodology experts and public representation. The group met for the first time today — Tuesday, 29 September 2020.

Dr Ryan continued: “This robust process will ensure that public health decisions continue to be informed by rapid access to the best available evidence relevant to the outbreak at each stage of the pandemic. Our work supports the diverse evidence needs of NPHET in leading the national public health response to COVID-19.”

The advice from HIQA to NPHET and the underpinning evidence is published at www.hiqa.ie. The Terms of Reference and membership of the COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group are below.  

Ends.

Further information:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
01 814 7480/085 805 5202, mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to Editor:

  • HIQA’s COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team supports NPHET by producing a variety of outputs including rapid health technology assessments, scoping reports, rapid reviews of public health guidance and evidence summaries, supplemented by an evidence-to-advice framework to guide the development of advice, where appropriate.

Terms of Reference for HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group
In relation to COVID-19-related evidence synthesis, members of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) will:

  1. Contribute to the provision of high-quality research by HIQA.
  2. Contribute fully to the work, debate and decision-making processes of the group by providing expert guidance, as appropriate.
  3. Be prepared to provide expert advice on relevant issues outside of group meetings, as requested.
  4. Provide advice to HIQA regarding the scope of an analysis.
  5. Support the Evidence Synthesis Team led by HIQA during the research process by providing access to pertinent data, as appropriate.
  6. Review draft reports from the Evidence Synthesis Team and recommend amendments, as appropriate.
  7. Support the development of evidence-based advice from HIQA to NPHET on behalf of the Department of the Minister for Health and to the HSE using a structured Evidence to Advice framework.
  8. Contribute to HIQA’s development of its approach to health services research by participating in an evaluation of the process on occasion.
  9. Notify the project lead if a nominee can no longer participate or contribute to the process as non-participation may require alternative EAG membership to be sought.

Membership of HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group

Dr Niamh Bambury

Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, HSE- Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Prof Karina Butler

Consultant Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist, Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin & Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee

Dr Jeff Connell

Assistant Director, UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin

Dr Eibhlín Connolly

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

Prof Máire Connolly

 

Adjunct Professor of Global Health and Development, National University of Ireland, Galway

Prof Martin Cormican

Consultant Microbiologist & National Clinical Lead, HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Team

Ms Sinead Creagh

Medical Scientist, Laboratory Manager at Cork University Hospital & Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine

Dr Ellen Crushell*

Consultant Paediatrician, Dean, Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland & Co-National Clinical Lead, HSE Paediatric/Neonatology Clinical Programme

Dr John Cuddihy

Specialist in Public Health Medicine & Interim Director, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Dr Cillian de Gascun

Consultant Virologist & Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin

Dr Lorraine Doherty

National Clinical Director Health Protection, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Ms Josephine Galway

National Director of Nursing, Infection Prevention Control and Antimicrobial Resistance, AMRIC
Division, HSE- Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Dr Vida Hamilton

Consultant Anaesthetist & National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospital Operations Division, HSE

Dr David Hanlon

General Practitioner & National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Primary Care/Clinical Strategy and Programmes, HSE

Dr Patricia Harrington

Head of Assessment, Health Technology Assessment, HIQA

Dr Derval Igoe

Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Prof Mary Keogan

Consultant Immunologist & National Clinical Lead , HSE Clinical Programme for Pathology

Dr Siobhán Kennelly

Consultant Geriatrician & National Clinical & Advisory Group Lead, Older Persons, HSE

Ms Sarah Lennon

Executive Director, SAGE Advocacy

Mr Andrew Lynch

Business Manager, Office of the National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead - Mental Health, HSE

Dr Gerry McCarthy *

Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine

Prof Paddy Mallon

Consultant in Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's University Hospital & HSE Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases

Dr Eavan Muldoon*

Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, National Clinical Lead for CIT and OPAT programmes & HSE Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases

Dr Desmond Murphy

Consultant Respiratory Physician & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Respiratory Medicine

Dr John Murphy

Consultant Paediatrician  & Co-National Clinical Lead,  HSE Paediatric/Neonatology Clinical Programme and

Dr Gerard O’Connor

Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital  HSE Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine

Ms Michelle O’Neill

HRB-CICER Programme Manager, Health Technology Assessment Directorate, HIQA

Dr Orlaith O’Reilly

Specialist in Public Health Medicine &Joint Clinical Lead, HSE Integrated Programme for Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease

Dr Mary O’Riordan

Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Dr Margaret B. O’Sullivan

Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Department of Public Health, HSE South & Chair, National Zoonoses Committee

Dr Michael Power

Consultant Intensivist, Beaumount Hospital & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Critical Care

Dr Máirín Ryan (Chair)

Director of Health Technology Assessment & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, HIQA

Dr Lynda Sisson

Consultant in Occupational Medicine, Dean of Faculty of Occupational Medicine, RCPI & HSE National Clinical Lead for Workplace Health and Well Being

Prof Susan Smith

Professor of Primary Care Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Dr Patrick Stapleton

Consultant Microbiologist, UL Hospitals Group, Limerick & Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists

Dr Conor Teljeur

Chief Scientist, Health Technology Assessment, HIQA

Ms Anne Tobin

Assessment and Surveillance Manager, Medical Devices, Health Products Regulatory Authority

*    Alternate nominee for programme /association