HIQA seeks consultancy service for corporate plan development

HIQA has tendered for a “suitability qualified expert” to assist in the development of its new corporate plan.
The Authority is commencing the development of a new corporate plan to cover the period 2022-2024. According to tender documents, the successful application will provide a range of services primarily in relation to stakeholder engagement. It will involve assessing and reporting on the feedback received to identify and understand key areas for attention and to inform strategic priorities and objectives. This includes design and facilitation of stakeholder consultation, analysis, and synthesis of stakeholder feedback.

The successful applicant will also be required to assist in strategy development and the drafting of the strategy document. The appointed expert would be expected to facilitate an initial strategy session with the board and the executive management team; provide an analysis of the results of the session; and advise on how this will guide further stakeholder engagement.

They would also “provide a high-level analysis of an open consultation with stakeholders that will invite written submissions”. The successful applicant would lead the wider stakeholder engagement activities, including conducting one-to-one interviews by telephone or video call with HIQA staff; Government officials; and other stakeholders.
In addition, they would facilitate “four-to-six, two-hour virtual sessions with representative groups of staff”.

“The outputs of these sessions may be supplemented with output from internally run staff sessions,” according to the tender document. HIQA may also require support with strategy implementation and any reviews or other associated work, during the life of the plan. Meanwhile, the Authority recently published three inspection reports of hospitals that use medical exposure to ionising radiation.

Tallaght University Hospital demonstrated good compliance or substantial compliance with the regulations assessed on the day of inspection. Cork University Hospital was also found to be compliant or substantially compliant with regulations. However, inspectors found evidence of non-compliances in Kilcreene Regional Hospital, which related to deficits of governance and management, including oversight and allocation of responsibility for medical exposures.