Non-implementation of healthcare audit reports discussed

The HSE quality and safety committee has questioned the non-implementation of a number of healthcare audit recommendations, the Medical Independent can report.

At its meeting in December, the minutes of which have been seen by this newspaper through Freedom of Information law, the status of recommendations arising from healthcare audit reports between June and December 2018 was discussed.

The committee sought additional information relating to seven recommendations that were yet to be commenced.

The National Director, Quality Assurance and Verification Division, Mr Patrick Lynch, informed the committee that the seven recommendations related to three of the four audits conducted: The national early warning score guidelines; multidisciplinary clinical handover guidelines; and the standards and recommendations practices for healthcare records management.

“An overview was given on the audit tracking report that will be circulated to national directors as a new measure to ensure that all recommendations are implemented,” according to the minutes.

At the previous meeting in November, Mr Lynch had provided an overview of healthcare audit, which is similar to the design and practice of internal audit, “as an independent, objective assurance activity designed to add value and improve an organisation’s operations.”

It was agreed that the committee would receive two reports per year on healthcare audit.

“The draft healthcare audit plan for 2020 was brought to the committee for consideration prior to being signed off by the executive management team,” according to the report. “The committee agreed to endorse the plan.”

The meeting also heard how the HSE was in the process of developing a national system for shared learning following patient safety incidents.

“The system seeks to build on the work already undertaken, as well as identifying new opportunities for development of information to inform safety improvement.”

The meeting agreed that progress reports on the project should be provided to the committee.