The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent authority established to promote high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. HIQA’s mission is to safeguard people who use health and social care services, to promote sustainable improvements and to support informed decisions about how services are delivered.
HIQA has assured the Department that information on the quality, safety and experience of people using services is vital to its work. The Authority receives, analyses and risk-assesses information from a range of sources, including residents and their families. All information is used to inform HIQA's ongoing monitoring and inspection programme.
I understand that HIQA received information from the persons concerned, and responded accordingly. The interested party was made aware of HIQA’s statutory remit and that the Authority does not have the legal power to investigate individual concerns or complaints. In relation to the report of November 2015 referred to by the Deputy, which was in fact a HSE report, HIQA has advised the Department that it is not in a position to release details of that report, which is a matter between the HSE and the family members of the individual referenced. Three reports on inspections carried out by HIQA on the designated centre in question during the relevant period were published on HIQA's website between July 2016 and August 2017.
The HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to those aspects of the question that come within its remit.
