Health Information and Quality Authority
{{short description|Health care quality agency in Ireland}}
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA, {{IPAc-en|'|h|I|k|w|ae}}; {{langx|ga|An t-Údarás um Fhaisnéis agus Cáilíocht Sláinte}}) is a statutory, government-funded agency in Ireland which monitors the safety and quality of the healthcare and social care systems.{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/08/31/calls_for_review_of_cancer_treatment/|title=Calls for review of cancer treatment - Boston.com|website=www.boston.com|access-date=20 May 2019}} Mooted as early as 2001,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/early-death-still-a-major-health-issue-26252024.html|title=Early death still 'a major health issue'|website=Independent.ie|access-date=20 May 2019}} HIQA received its powers and mandate in May 2007 under the Health Act 2007. The Authority also exercises functions under the Child Care Act 1991 and the Children Act 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.dohc.ie/issues/nursing_home_inspection/ |title=Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes |access-date=2011-06-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520160749/http://www.dohc.ie/issues/nursing_home_inspection/ |archive-date=2011-05-20 }}
Hospitals
The Authority has produced a number of reports and recommendations on the safety of care in both public and private hospitals.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mallow-hospital-inquiry-announced-1.862280|title=Mallow hospital inquiry announced|first=Eithne|last=Donnellan|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=20 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0409/116151-ennis/|title=Ennis 'not viable' as acute hospital|date=9 April 2009|access-date=20 May 2019|website=rte.ie}} HIQA is also tasked with inspecting hygiene standards in public hospitals.{{cite web|url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/88726.php|title=National Hygiene Services Quality Review 2007, Ireland|website=Medical News Today|access-date=20 May 2019}}
As well as performing hospital evaluations, HIQA is charged with implementing electronic health records{{cite web |url=http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=6135 |title=eHealth records and prescribing pledge |publisher=Irishhealth.com |date=2004-07-21 |access-date=2019-05-20 |archive-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928111538/http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=6135 |url-status=dead }} and information governance,{{cite web|url=https://www.imt.ie/features-opinion/towards-a-digital-future-21-05-2011/|title=Towards a digital future|last=admin|date=21 May 2011|access-date=20 May 2019}} investigating waiting times,{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0622/302695-health/|title=Hospital waiting times 'excessive and unsafe'|date=22 June 2011|access-date=20 May 2019|website=rte.ie}} and protecting whistleblowers.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/better-health-in-new-year-26351096.html|title=Better health in new year?|website=Independent.ie|access-date=20 May 2019}}
Nursing homes
After the Leas Cross scandal, there was increased demand for inspection of both private and public nursing homes. As a result, HIQA was given powers to register, inspect and, via application to court, close nursing homes and similar residential services delivering sub-standard care.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1214/83628-nursing/|title=Nursing home bill to set up inspections body|date=14 December 2006|access-date=20 May 2019|website=rte.ie}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/independent-inspectors-to-spotcheck-hse-care-homes-1799123.html|title=Independent inspectors to spot check HSE care homes|newspaper=The Independent}}
Social care
HIQA has issued reports on foster care services, describing a lack of assessment of carers{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/wholl-bring-up-3-siblings-aged-under-5-2800703.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802090618/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/wholl-bring-up-3-siblings-aged-under-5-2800703.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-08-02|title=Who will bring up 3 siblings under the age of 5?|publisher=The Herald}} and criticising the "significant failure" by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to monitor children in care.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/foster-parents-still-not-fully-vetted-says-watchdog-26741332.html|title=Foster parents still not fully vetted, says watchdog|website=Independent.ie|access-date=20 May 2019}} In particular, HIQA raised concerns over the Dublin and North East areas.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/concerns-raised-over-quality-of-foster-care-449100.html|title=Concerns raised over quality of foster care|date=8 March 2010|website=www.irishexaminer.com|access-date=20 May 2019}}
See also
- Department of Health (Ireland)
- Evidence-based medicine
- Health Service Executive
- Hospital accreditation
- Joint Commission
- List of international healthcare accreditation organizations
- Medical ethics
- Patient safety
- Patient safety organization
- URAC
- Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland)