We continue to prepare for the commencement of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023. We have been meeting with stakeholders to explain how our role will expand, and prepare them for new reporting requirements that will be required of them when the Act is commenced.
The Act brings about a positive change for patients and residents who receive health services in nursing homes. Once the Act is commenced, when a notifiable incident occurs in a health setting as defined under the Act, health services providers must engage with patients and their families in open disclosure.
To prepare for this expended remit under the Act, we held a public consultation on amending the scope of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare to include private hospitals between 1 March and 12 April. This consultation was to allow members of the public and healthcare providers the opportunity to share their views on amending the scope of these national standards.
We are currently assessing all feedback received during the consultation period. We will use this feedback to inform the amendment to the scope of the national standards. The final standards and a stakeholder involvement report (a summary of the consultation responses) will be published on HIQA’s website once the standards have been approved by the Minister for Health.
We are continuing to meet with stakeholders and prepare for the commencement of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023.