Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
1202. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the person or body with responsibility for developing national clinical obstetric ultrasound guidelines as a whole entity; and the status of the progress of those guidelines [20151/20]
View answerThe National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) was established as part of the Patient Safety First Initiative. NCEC’s mission is to provide a framework for national endorsement of clinical guidelines and audit to optimise patient and service user care. The aim of the suite of National Clinical Guidelines is to provide guidance and standards for improving the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of healthcare in Ireland.
Clinical guidelines are systematically developed statements, based on a thorough evaluation of the evidence, to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances, across the entire clinical spectrum. Clinical guidelines endorsed by the Minister are titled ‘National Clinical Guidelines’.
The implementation of these National Clinical Guidelines supports the provision of evidence-based and consistent care across Irish healthcare services. However, it is recognised that the NCEC, and the health system as a whole, is able to effectively implement and monitor only a small number of National Clinical Guidelines each year. In that context it should be noted that not all clinical guidelines are submitted for national endorsement and Guideline Development Groups continue to develop clinical guidelines in response to the needs of their own organisations.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly with the specific information requested in relation to obstetric ultrasound guidelines, as soon as possible.
