HIQA establishes COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group to support evidence-based response to COVID-19
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today announced details of its new structures to provide evidence-based advice and support to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Earlier this month, the Government announced a move towards a sustainable response to the public health emergency. In response to requests from NPHET, HIQA now provides evidence-based advice directly to NPHET.
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Director of Health Technology Assessment and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Since March 2020, HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment Directorate has been providing research evidence to support the work of NPHET, NPHET Expert Advisory Group, other NPHET subgroups and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as part of the public health response to COVID-19.”
“This structural change sees HIQA taking the lead on developing evidence-based advice to inform public health policy, advice and practice in the context of COVID-19. To do this, we have set up a dedicated evidence synthesis team and a COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. This work is in line with our functions under Section 8 of Health Act 2007.”
HIQA’s advice to NPHET is informed by research evidence developed by HIQA’s COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team, with expert input from HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. The COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group is a multidisciplinary group, comprising nominated representatives from the relevant clinical specialities and areas of expertise, methodology experts and public representation. The group met for the first time today — Tuesday, 29 September 2020.
Dr Ryan continued: “This robust process will ensure that public health decisions continue to be informed by rapid access to the best available evidence relevant to the outbreak at each stage of the pandemic. Our work supports the diverse evidence needs of NPHET in leading the national public health response to COVID-19.”
The advice from HIQA to NPHET and the underpinning evidence is published at www.hiqa.ie. The Terms of Reference and membership of the COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group are below.
Ends.
Further information:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
01 814 7480/085 805 5202, mwhelan@hiqa.ie
Notes to Editor:
- HIQA’s COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team supports NPHET by producing a variety of outputs including rapid health technology assessments, scoping reports, rapid reviews of public health guidance and evidence summaries, supplemented by an evidence-to-advice framework to guide the development of advice, where appropriate.
Terms of Reference for HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group
In relation to COVID-19-related evidence synthesis, members of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) will:
- Contribute to the provision of high-quality research by HIQA.
- Contribute fully to the work, debate and decision-making processes of the group by providing expert guidance, as appropriate.
- Be prepared to provide expert advice on relevant issues outside of group meetings, as requested.
- Provide advice to HIQA regarding the scope of an analysis.
- Support the Evidence Synthesis Team led by HIQA during the research process by providing access to pertinent data, as appropriate.
- Review draft reports from the Evidence Synthesis Team and recommend amendments, as appropriate.
- Support the development of evidence-based advice from HIQA to NPHET on behalf of the Department of the Minister for Health and to the HSE using a structured Evidence to Advice framework.
- Contribute to HIQA’s development of its approach to health services research by participating in an evaluation of the process on occasion.
- Notify the project lead if a nominee can no longer participate or contribute to the process as non-participation may require alternative EAG membership to be sought.
Membership of HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group
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Dr Niamh Bambury |
Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, HSE- Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
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Prof Karina Butler |
Consultant Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist, Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin & Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee |
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Dr Jeff Connell |
Assistant Director, UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin |
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Dr Eibhlín Connolly |
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health |
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Prof Máire Connolly
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Adjunct Professor of Global Health and Development, National University of Ireland, Galway |
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Prof Martin Cormican |
Consultant Microbiologist & National Clinical Lead, HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Team |
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Ms Sinead Creagh |
Medical Scientist, Laboratory Manager at Cork University Hospital & Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine |
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Dr Ellen Crushell* |
Consultant Paediatrician, Dean, Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland & Co-National Clinical Lead, HSE Paediatric/Neonatology Clinical Programme |
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Dr John Cuddihy |
Specialist in Public Health Medicine & Interim Director, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
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Dr Cillian de Gascun |
Consultant Virologist & Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin |
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Dr Lorraine Doherty |
National Clinical Director Health Protection, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
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Ms Josephine Galway |
National Director of Nursing, Infection Prevention Control and Antimicrobial Resistance, AMRIC |
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Dr Vida Hamilton |
Consultant Anaesthetist & National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospital Operations Division, HSE |
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Dr David Hanlon |
General Practitioner & National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Primary Care/Clinical Strategy and Programmes, HSE |
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Dr Patricia Harrington |
Head of Assessment, Health Technology Assessment, HIQA |
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Dr Derval Igoe |
Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
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Prof Mary Keogan |
Consultant Immunologist & National Clinical Lead , HSE Clinical Programme for Pathology |
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Dr Siobhán Kennelly |
Consultant Geriatrician & National Clinical & Advisory Group Lead, Older Persons, HSE |
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Ms Sarah Lennon |
Executive Director, SAGE Advocacy |
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Mr Andrew Lynch |
Business Manager, Office of the National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead - Mental Health, HSE |
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Dr Gerry McCarthy * |
Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine |
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Prof Paddy Mallon |
Consultant in Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's University Hospital & HSE Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases |
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Dr Eavan Muldoon* |
Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, National Clinical Lead for CIT and OPAT programmes & HSE Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases |
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Dr Desmond Murphy |
Consultant Respiratory Physician & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Respiratory Medicine |
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Dr John Murphy |
Consultant Paediatrician & Co-National Clinical Lead, HSE Paediatric/Neonatology Clinical Programme and |
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Dr Gerard O’Connor |
Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital HSE Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine |
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Ms Michelle O’Neill |
HRB-CICER Programme Manager, Health Technology Assessment Directorate, HIQA |
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Dr Orlaith O’Reilly |
Specialist in Public Health Medicine &Joint Clinical Lead, HSE Integrated Programme for Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease |
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Dr Mary O’Riordan |
Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
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Dr Margaret B. O’Sullivan |
Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Department of Public Health, HSE South & Chair, National Zoonoses Committee |
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Dr Michael Power |
Consultant Intensivist, Beaumount Hospital & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Critical Care |
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Dr Máirín Ryan (Chair) |
Director of Health Technology Assessment & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, HIQA |
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Dr Lynda Sisson |
Consultant in Occupational Medicine, Dean of Faculty of Occupational Medicine, RCPI & HSE National Clinical Lead for Workplace Health and Well Being |
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Prof Susan Smith |
Professor of Primary Care Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
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Dr Patrick Stapleton |
Consultant Microbiologist, UL Hospitals Group, Limerick & Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists |
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Dr Conor Teljeur |
Chief Scientist, Health Technology Assessment, HIQA |
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Ms Anne Tobin |
Assessment and Surveillance Manager, Medical Devices, Health Products Regulatory Authority |
* Alternate nominee for programme /association