The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is Northern Ireland's independent health and social care regulator. In its work RQIA encourages continuous improvement in the quality of health and social care services through a programme of inspections and reviews. Visit our about us section to find out more.

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RQIA's website is now BrowseAloud speech enabled. In order to use this free service,
please click on the BrowseAloud logo.

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New RQIA Board Appointments (Updated 20 December 2011)

Health Minister, Edwin Poots has announced the appointment of three Non-Executive Members to the RQIA Board. They are Mrs Sarah Havlin (Legal Member); Mr Denis Power (Financial Member); and Ms Lindsey Smith (Lay Member).

To view the full DHSSPS press release, please click here.

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RQIA publishes the report of its Review of Sensory Support Services In Northern Ireland (Updated 20 December 2011)

RQIA has just published the report of its Review of Sensory Support Services In Northern Ireland. The review examined the impact and effectiveness of the Quality Standards for Social Work and Rehabilitation in Sensory Support Services (2007).

The review found that while significant progress had been made in addressing the rights and needs of those with sensory support requirements in Northern Ireland in recent years, that further work is required, particularly in information provision, and strategy, policy and staff training for sensory support services. The review also highlights the need to involve service users in the development of services.

You can access the review reports here.

Large print versions of these reports are also available at the above location. Audio and signed versions of the overview report are also available on request by emailing info@rqia.org.uk.

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RQIA Publishes Infection Prevention and Hygiene Inspection Reports (Updated 13 December 2011)

RQIA has published a series of reports of inspection conducted during 2011, highlighting the findings of its programme of infection prevention and hygiene inspections at acute, community, independent and mental health and learning disability hospitals across Northern Ireland.

This year’s inspections were conducted against new Regional Healthcare Hygiene and Cleanliness Standards. These examine both front-line practice at ward level, and the policies and procedures to support the effective delivery of good infection control and hygiene practice.

You can access RQIA’s Infection Prevention and Hygiene Inspection reports here.

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RQIA Publishes Review of Readiness for Revalidation in Primary Care in Northern Ireland (Updated 15 December 2011)

In 2009, the General Medical Council (GMC) introduced new arrangements to implement a programme of revalidation for all doctors, to take effect from late 2012. As part of its three-year review programme, RQIA examined the arrangements in Northern Ireland to support revalidation of general medical practitioners in primary care settings.

RQIA’s review team concluded that the Health and Social Care Board and NI Medical and Dental Training Agency have strong leadership in place, with staff committed to ensuring that revalidation for primary care doctors is successfully introduced in Northern Ireland.

You can access RQIA’s review report here.

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RQIA Publishes Prison Healthcare Inspection Report

In March 2011, RQIA, in partnership with Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI), HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Education and Training Inspectorate, conducted an unannounced inspection at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre (YOC) and Ash House Women’s Prison.

In addition to the joint inspections, RQIA also conducted a detailed inspection on prison healthcare at the YOC and Women’s Prison. The report highlights issues relating to healthcare provision within the prisons, and makes specific recommendations for those organisations involved in the commissioning and provision of healthcare services within these prisons.

You can access RQIA’s Prison Healthcare Inspection report and the joint reports here.

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RQIA Consultations

Following the pre-consultation period for RQIA’s Corporate Strategy and Three Year Review Programme for 2012-15, RQIA held a formal twelve week consultation period, running from 12 September to 9 December 2011 (now closed).

RQIA will now consider responses to the consultation, and will publish its Corporate Strategy and Three Year Review Programme for 2012-15 in early 2012. You can view the consultation documents at our consultations page.

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RQIA publishes first phase of Independent Review of Reporting Arrangements for Radiological Investigations (Updated 31 August 2011)

In February 2011, following delays in the reporting of plain x-rays at Altnagelvin and Craigavon hospitals, former health minister Michael McGimpsey commissioned RQIA to undertake an Independent Review of Reporting Arrangements for Radiological Investigations. The first phase of the review, which is available here, examined the situation in all radiology departments in Northern Ireland against a range of published standards and guidance. RQIA’s review team, which included expert advisors from the UK and Republic of Ireland, found no evidence of issues requiring immediate action to protect patient safety. However, the review team noted a shortage of consultant radiologists in Northern Ireland, which trusts were working to address. In the first phase, the review team made 12 recommendations for improvement for a range of health and social care bodies across Northern Ireland.

The second phase of this review is now underway to examine the circumstances leading to the delays in reporting of plain x-rays in the Western and Southern trusts prior to the review. The findings and recommendations from this phase will be published later this year.

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Latest RQIA Reports, 9 August 2011

In 2008, RQIA began a comprehensive review of child protection services in Northern Ireland. An overview report of this review is now available which includes the recommendations from each stage of the review and a brief description of actions taken to date. Copies of the overview report and the individual HSC trust reports for each stage of the review are now available here.

RQIA’s Overview Inspection Report on Young People Placed in Leaving Care Projects and Health and Social Care Trusts' 16 Plus Transition Teams is now available here.

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