Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
667. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health how many concerns HIQA has received relating to a facility (details supplied) for the years 2020-2023, with a breakdown into specific themes of concern type; and if any of these concerns have been forwarded to An Garda Síochána or to the safeguarding and protection teams. [33488/23]
View answerThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established under the Health Act 2007, as amended, to promote safety and quality in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public. HIQA’s regulatory role is to regulate designated centres for older people, people with a disability and special care units. HIQA also regulates medical ionising radiation exposure and monitors standards in acute and community hospitals and some children’s social care services.
HIQA has no statutory remit to manage or respond to individual complaints, this is the statutory responsibility of the service provider. However, while HIQA does not investigate or resolve individual complaints it does welcome feedback about centres and services under its remit –which the Authority refers to as unsolicited information (UROI).
HIQA has advised my Department that all UROIs received are reviewed by an inspector to establish if the information received indicates a risk to the safety, effectiveness, and management of the service, and the day-today care the resident or patient receives.
If HIQA considers that the service provider may not be compliant with the regulations and or national standards, they can respond by:
• asking the service provider to submit additional information on the issue
• requesting a plan from the service provider outlining how the issue will be investigated and addressed
• using the information on inspection
• carrying out an unannounced inspection to assess the quality and safety of the care being provided in the service
In addition, where the information indicates that people may be at immediate risk HIQA will ensure that relevant authorities such as the Gardaí, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) or the Health Service Executive (HSE) Adult Safeguarding and Protection Team are informed.
HIQA has advised my Department that it received 33 pieces of unsolicited information in relation to the facility referred to in the Deputy’s question.
|
Year |
Number of pieces of unsolicited information |
|
2020 |
12 |
|
2021 |
7 |
|
2022 |
12 |
|
2023 (to 30th June) |
2 |
HIQA has further advised that UROIs can contain more than one theme. From the table above the themes include Safeguarding (28), Rights (28), Quality of care (18), Infection prevention and control measures (14), General welfare and development (4), Visiting (2), Premises (2), Risk management (2), Management of personal possessions (1), Protection (1). Governance and management (28), Communication (15), Staffing (13), Complaints handling (3), Training and staff development (1).
HIQA has noted that some of these UROIs may have already been notified to the Chief Inspector via a statutory notification form with relevant referrals made to An Garda Síochána in line with the centre’s written policy and procedures on the prevention, detection and response to abuse.
