Monday 10 October 2016:The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published proposed new standards for public acute hospitals to protect patients and staff from acquiring and spreading Healthcare Associated Infections, and is inviting the public to comment on them.

HIQA’s Draft revision of the national standards for the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections in acute healthcare services outlines 31 standards that reflect up-to-date infection prevention and control best practice.

These draft national standards apply to all acute healthcare services provided or funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE). They do not apply to primary and community health and social care services. The development of new standards for these areas will commence next year. Service providers in these settings will continue to use the 2009 Standards in the interim. 

HIQA’s Director of Standards and Quality Improvement Marie Kehoe-O’Sullivan said: “The draft standards are designed to promote a safe and effective infection prevention and control environment within acute hospitals, with the goal of reducing Healthcare Associated Infections. We would urge patients, their families, service providers and the public to become involved in developing these standards.” 

The draft standards are open for public feedback until Friday 18 November next.

Marie Kehoe-O’Sullivan continued: “These draft standards are a revision of the 2009 National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, and they incorporate the learning from HIQA’s programme of inspections against these standards across Irish hospitals. The standards are outcome-based, meaning that each standard provides a specific outcome for the service to meet.

“The draft revised standards include areas that are known to be important in the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections, such as communication, risk management and quality improvement initiatives.”

“Preventing and controlling Healthcare Associated Infections continues to be a significant challenge to healthcare systems everywhere. It is critically important that all Irish hospitals continue their best efforts to fully comply with national standards, and to prioritise areas that need to improve. Senior management in the hospitals and in the Health Service Executive (HSE) are accountable for implementing national standards.”

Further Information: 

Suzanne O’Brien, Communications and Complaints Manager, HIQA

01 814 7488 / 087 624 1216 sobrien@hiqa.ie

Notes to the Editor: 

Healthcare Associated Infections affect on average 1 in 20 people in the acute healthcare service setting, rising in patient care areas with high numbers of vulnerable patients and complex activity. In addition, antimicrobial resistance presents a serious threat to patients. Currently, Ireland has the highest proportion of vancomycin resistant enterococci in Europe for the eighth consecutive year running.

The new HIQA standards stem from a review of international and national standards, guidelines, recommendations, policies, national reports and expert opinion. HIQA also held focus groups with patients, healthcare professional representative organisations, inspectors and front-line hospital staff.

The Health Act 2007 gives HIQA the statutory responsibility for monitoring compliance with the existing National Standards. Since 2012, HIQA has engaged in a rolling programme of inspections against these standards in order to promote improvement in infection prevention and control practices across Irish hospitals.