Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
1530. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendation 8.1 of the national cardiovascular health policy 2010-2019; the detail of evidence based guidelines and standards that have been agreed; the detail of performance indicators and reporting structures that have been established; the way these have been met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28785/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cardiovascular policy acknowledged the role of evidence based guidelines in the development of services. The policy itself recommended the adoption of the 2007 ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines which have now been updated and revised. International evidence was also used in relation to the provision of acute hospital services for cardiovascular disease.
In relation to the broader issues of guidelines and standards, clinical effectiveness is considered as a key component of patient safety and quality. 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.
The Irish clinical effectiveness agenda is led by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) which is a Ministerial committee of key stakeholders including patients. Its role is to prioritise and quality assure to the level of international methodological standards a suite of National Clinical Guidelines and National Clinical Audit, prioritised, as significant for the Irish healthcare system. National Clinical Audit and National Clinical Guidelines, quality assured and recommended by NCEC for implementation in the Irish health system provide robust evidence-based approaches to underpin or define systems of service or models of care as appropriate. They assist in developing and monitoring the improvement and standardisation of service delivery. Since 2013, the NCEC has published 14 National Clinical Guidelines in the areas of clinical deterioration, cancer and palliative care, hospital acquired infections and chronic diseases. A further 14 are in development as new or updates of existing guidelines. The National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) prioritised and quality assured its first national clinical audit the Major Trauma Audit, which the Minister launched in December 2016. The NCEC, in November 2015, published the Standards for Clinical Practice Guidance setting out the standards for development of clinical guidance such as policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines. This has been followed by the HSE's Framework for utilisation of these NCEC Standards.
