Work on a new
cancer patient safety and quality framework has been subject to a “scaling
down” as a result of changes in the organisations responsible for the project,
the Medical Independent (MI) can report.
A recommendation in the national cancer strategy states
that the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) “will ensure that each
hospital has a clearly-defined framework for cancer patient safety and
quality”.
The executive management team of the NCCP discussed the
issue at its meeting in February, the minutes of which were obtained by MI through Freedom
of Information law.
“A scaling-down of the project has been necessary, due
mainly to changes within the HSE/HIQA and the NCEC [national clinical
effectiveness committee],” according to the minutes.
“A smaller ‘test and learn’ approach has been advised by
key stakeholders.”
A briefing paper on the new approach was circulated to
meeting attendees.
The meeting heard that the head of the quality and safety
hub post is “on hold for the moment” and the post of programme manager for
quality and safety is being considered to build the necessary infrastructure
for implementation of the framework.
A spokesperson for the NCCP told this newspaper that the
programme has gone through a process of stakeholder engagement within the Irish
health system, and has received expert advice from both NHS Scotland and a
cancer quality expert from the UK, where established frameworks are in place.
The pilot ‘test and learn’ process is expected to
conclude in St James’s Hospital in February 2020, after which time the NCCP
will “further refine the framework and the standards for inclusion”, according
to the spokesperson.
“Initially, the framework will focus on standards for
lung cancer, but will evolve to include standards for all cancers,” the
spokesperson stated.
“The national steering group for quality and safety will
regroup in Q1 2020 in consult on the new framework and the standards for
inclusion.”
The spokesperson
added “the post of programme manager for quality and safety at general manager
level is within the approval process for grade VIII and above with the
Department of Health”.
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