The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published its annual report for 2022, outlining its role in working to improve the quality and safety of Ireland’s health and social care services. The report outlines how HIQA resumed full inspection and monitoring activities due to the relaxation of public health restrictions, and how providers, staff and services users all settled into the ‘new normal’ of post-pandemic life.



The report details the organisation’s work to regulate and monitor services, develop national standards and guidance, provide evidence synthesis and health technology assessments to support key policy decision-making, and to further develop health information in Ireland. The report also details a summary of over 2,100 inspections of services during the year across healthcare and social care settings. In 2022, HIQA published 13 evidence synthesis reviews or advice on COVID-19 for the Minister for Health, Department of Health and National Public Health Emergency Team. This work shows the value and importance of using scientific evidence to shape and influence the public health decision-making process. 



In 2022, HIQA carried out: 1,329 inspections of designated centres for people with disabilities; 726 inspections of nursing homes; 63 ionising radiation inspections in public and private hospitals and dental facilities; 54 inspections of children’s services; and 20 inspections of acute and community hospitals. 



HIQA’s Chief Executive, Angela Fitzgerald, said: “In 2022, HIQA continued to place a focus on safeguarding and human rights, including in the national standards and guidance we develop, and in how services are regulated. During 2022, one of our key priorities was enabling our stakeholders, and especially people using health and social care services, to express their views. The valuable feedback we received is hugely important to our work and to shaping sustainable change in the way service users experience care. As the regulator, we continued to monitor the safety and quality of health and social care services, responding to risk as appropriate and supporting improvement in services.” 



“We commenced a new programme of inspections in acute and community healthcare services against the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, and used our position as a trusted voice on behalf of patients and the public to drive improvements in these services. Collaboration with other bodies also remains a key area of focus for HIQA. We worked with the Department of Health and the HSE on the National Care Experience Programme, including the rollout of the first ever National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey which aimed to capture the experience of bereaved parents, and on the publication of the first National Nursing Home Experience Survey.”



Angela Fitzgerald concluded: “2022 was a busy year for HIQA, as highlighted in this report. Throughout the year we furthered our preparations to take on new responsibilities, including through the commencement of the Patient Safety Bill and the inspection of International Protection Accommodation Services. We remain committed to protecting and upholding the human rights of all people using health and social care services in Ireland.”



Read the annual report from the link at the top of the page.

Ends.



Further information:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

01 814 7480/085 805 5202, mwhelan@hiqa.ie

 

Notes to Editor:

1. The report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 24 May 2023 by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, in line with the requirements in the Health Act 2007, as amended. 
2. During 2022, HIQA carried out 2,192 inspections of health and social services, such as nursing homes, residential centres for people with disabilities, children’s services and public hospitals. 
3. During the year, 16,629 people completed the infection prevention and control online learning course.