RQIA Annual Report & Accounts 2011-12 - Regulation and Quality ...

The team noted that the establishment of a local adult safeguarding partnership in
each trust has fundamentally changed the governance of adult protection services.
In addition, the work streams under the Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding
Partnership have brought a clearer focus on the safeguarding and protection of
vulnerable adults. The review made a range of recommendations for those
organisations involved, reinforcing the need to adhere to the guidance within the
protocol in relation to governance, training and record keeping.
Review of Mixed Gender Accommodation
During 2011-12 RQIA completed a review commissioned by DHSSPS to examine
the processes put in place by HSC trusts in relation to the management of care in
mixed gender accommodation. In Northern Ireland, care in mixed gender
accommodation has been identified as a concern by DHSSPS as a result of a
number of serious adverse incidents (SAIs) reported by trusts in wards where there
has been mixed gender care. Currently there are no equivalent standards in
Northern Ireland to those in England, where there is a zero tolerance policy in
respect of care in mixed gender accommodation. The review report, which makes
a number of recommendations for improvement, is due for publication in early
2012-13.
Reviews Commissioned by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public
Safety
RQIA also undertook two reviews commissioned by the Minister for Health, Social
Services and Public Safety: a two phase review on reporting arrangements for
radiological investigations, commissioned on 18 February 2011; and an
independent review of incidents of pseudomonas aeruginosa in neonatal units in
Northern Ireland, commissioned on 30 January 2012.
RQIA Independent Review of Reporting Arrangements for Radiological
Investigations - Phases One and Two)
In February 2011, the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
commissioned this review following delays in the reporting of plain x-rays at
Altnagelvin and Craigavon hospitals. RQIA‟s review team included expert advisors
from across the UK, including Dr Nicola Strickland, Registrar of the Royal College
of Radiologists. The first phase examined governance arrangements across the
five HSC trusts to assure patient safety and protection with regard to handling and
reporting on radiological investigations. RQIA published the first phase of this
review in August 2011, making 12 recommendations for improvement.
The second phase of the review examined the circumstances leading to delays in
handling and reporting of radiological investigations in the Southern and Western
Trusts and how these delays were managed. RQIA‟s review team also met with a
number of families who described the impact of these delays on their families. This
phase, which was completed in December 2011, made 14 further recommendations
for improvement.
16