A major national consultation on new healthcare standards for Ireland has been launched by the Health Information and Quality Authority. HIQA has published the draft National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and people are being asked to comment on them over the next six weeks.

The standards will outline to the public, people who use health services and healthcare providers what is required for high quality, reliable, healthcare services and will describe what a good, safe, service should look like.

Speaking at the launch of the consultation on the draft standards, Jon Billings, Director of Healthcare Quality and Safety with the Authority, said: “The public should know what they can expect from healthcare services, just as those providing care should know what is expected of them. The National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare aim to drive real improvements for patients by creating a common understanding of what makes a good, safe, health service.”

“The draft standards raise questions on how services are organised and aim to bring systematic changes throughout the health system where required. They outline wide-ranging principles that we think should apply across the full range of healthcare settings – such as in primary and community care as well as in hospitals and ambulance services – with the aim of achieving safer, better and more reliable care for everyone. The standards put the service user at the heart of the care process, focusing on dignity, respect and empowering service users by providing effective information.”

“It is essential for us to receive as many comments as possible on the draft standards during this consultation. All of the comments will be taken into account in finalising the standards to ensure that they will effectively meet the needs of those using Irish healthcare services,” he said.

“Ireland has many examples of excellent health services, but also experience of patients being let down by serious failures. Setting standards is an important step in the process of ongoing improvement. Taken together, these standards provide the basis for comprehensive and long-term improvement in the quality, and safety of services,” said Jon Billings.

To give everyone the opportunity to review the draft standards, in addition to the full-text document, the Authority has also created an easy-to-read version of the standards, along with an audio version on iTunes, a podcast on YouTube and an online feedback form on www.hiqa.ie. Information is also available on Facebook and Twitter.

Following consultation, HIQA will review all submissions received to inform the content of the standards. Once approved by the Board of the Authority the standards will be mandated by the Minister for Health and Children and rolled out nationally. HIQA will then monitor compliance with the standards to assess how they are being followed in practice. The Authority will then prepare for the commencement of licensing as the designated licensing body for healthcare services in 2012.

The closing date for comments is 4 November 2010. All the information on where to get copies of the draft standards and how to take part in the consultation is available from www.hiqa.ie.

Further Information: 

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement 01 814 7481 / 086 2447 623 mwhelan@hiqa.ie

See our consultation page for more information on taking part.

Video introducing the Draft National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare

NationalStandardsforSaferBetterHealthcare200910 by HIQA

Notes to the Editor: 

A full consultation toolkit including the full text document, easy to read version and feedback form is available on www.hiqa.ie. Feedback can also be provided through Facebook and Twitter by searching HIQA.

5 things you need to know about the standards

The standards will:

1. Provide service providers and service users alike with a shared understanding of safe quality healthcare
2. Promote a consistent level in the safety and quality of healthcare across services
3. Identify the means by which healthcare service providers can continue to work towards improvement
4. Support the implementation of other patient safety initiatives
5. Increase service provider accountability to the people who use their services and funding agencies for the quality and safety of services they provide.

8 Themes for Safer Better Healthcare

• Person-Centered Care
• Leadership, Governance and Management
• Effective Care
• Safe Care
• Workforce
• Use of Resources
• Use of Information
• Promoting Better Health