Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

36. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that adequate health and safety guidelines and precautions apply in all hospitals throughout the country without exception, including maternity hospitals and nursing homes in the public and the private sectors; the extent to which such guidelines are updated on a regular basis; the issues that have been brought to the attention of his Department which might impact on the well-being of patients or staff; the steps taken to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20758/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary and private have been registered and inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority.

The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations, 2013 (SI 415/2013) contain comprehensive provisions for the purpose of ensuring that proper standards are in place in designated centres for older people. Schedule 5 to these Regulations lists the policies and procedures that a registered provider must have in place including, for example, health and safety (to include infection control and food safety); risk management; prevention, detection and response to abuse; staff training; responding to emergencies; fire safety management; handling of complaints; medications management.

National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People are also in place. These standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services.

In June 2012 the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare were approved by the previous Minister for Health. The National Standards are aimed at protecting patients and they provide a strategic approach to improving safety, quality and reliability in our health services. They describe high quality safe healthcare services. Such services deliver care which is safe, effective, person centred and which promotes better health for service users. The National Standards also describe what capacity and capability factors service providers require to implement these standards. Service providers, including the private (independent) service providers, can use the National Standards as a framework to organise, manage and deliver their services safely. It is envisaged that the proposals being developed for the licensing of healthcare providers will be based on key concepts within the National Standards.

HIQA continues to monitor the quality and safety of healthcare service with the National Standards through the delivery of a programme of thematic monitoring reviews based on identified priorities and consultation with stakeholders. HIQA also carries out a programme of announced and unannounced infection prevention and hygiene inspections in hospitals in line with theNational Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

The National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) was established in 2010. Clinical effectiveness is a key component of patient safety and quality. The integration of national and international best available evidence in service provision through utilisation of clinical effectiveness processes promotes healthcare that is up to date, effective and consistent.

Clinical effectiveness incorporates the utilisation of quality assured National Clinical Guidelines, National Clinical Audit and general clinical practice guidance. This is a quality improvement approach which promotes cost-effective healthcare that is evidence-based, with subsequent improved clinical decision-making and clinical outcomes. Clinical effectiveness will underpin the models of care for the HSE's national clinical programmes.

To date, the NCEC has quality assured 6 National Clinical Guidelines which have been endorsed by respective Ministers and mandated for implementation in the Irish health system. These include:

1. National Early Warning Score (NEWS);

2. Prevention and Control of MRSA;

3. Clostridium difficile;

4. Irish Maternity Early Warning System ( IMEWS);

5. Clinical Handover in Maternity Service; and

6. Sepsis Management.

Their implementation will be monitored through the HSE Assurance Reports, compliance with HIQA's National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and increased alignment with the Clinical Indemnity Scheme.