Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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623. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the HIQA report of the Mercy University Hospital unannounced inspections of 7 June 2016 and 20 July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37670/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Each year, HIQA carries out a number of unannounced inspections in public acute hospitals to monitor compliance with the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections. The aim of such unannounced inspections is to assess hygiene in the hospital, as observed by the inspection team and experienced by patients, at any given time.

In response to HIQA's findings, each hospital is expected to develop a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) that prioritises the improvements necessary to comply with the National Standards. These plans must be published, and made accessible on the websites of the individual hospitals, within six weeks of publication of the Authority's report.

HIQA's work in this field is to be commended, and is something I place a high value on as Minister for Health. It is vital that all elements of the health service strive to reach best practice standards in all areas of their work, and the inspection regime put in place by HIQA, is playing a major role in driving improvements across the health service.

As the updating of the QIP is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this point.