We are preparing to take on a number of new responsibilities, including the monitoring of international protection accommodation services, known as direct provision centres.
As set out in the Programme for Government, new functions for HIQA include the:
- Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019
- Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill (2018)
- monitoring of international protection accommodation services.
The Patient Safety Bill and the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill (2018), once enacted, will place a statutory responsibility on HIQA to monitor private healthcare facilities against national standards, receive and respond to notifiable patient safety incidents, and regulate post-mortem practices that fall outside of the coroner’s process. HIQA is engaging with the Department of Health to progress these areas.
International protection accommodation services provide accommodation and support for people seeking international protection through the asylum process with Ireland. This will be the first time that such services have been monitored by an independent body such as HIQA, with this role arising from the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process.
Our Director of Healthcare Regulation, Sean Egan, said: “We are currently working closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to prepare for the monitoring of international protection accommodation services. This will be a temporary role, which HIQA will hold for a four-year period.”
“Our monitoring approach will seek to ensure that national standards are being applied, that people availing of such services are properly safeguarded and that their rights are upheld in relation to their living conditions. We look forward to this work progressing throughout the year.”
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