The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA, /ˈhɪkwæ/; Irish: An t-Údarás um Fhaisnéis agus Cáilíocht Sláinte ) is a statutory, government-funded agency in the Republic of Ireland which monitors the safety and quality of the healthcare and social care systems. [1] Mooted as early as 2001, [2] HIQA received its powers and mandate in May 2007 under the Health Act 2007. The Authority also exercises functions under the Child Care Act 1991 and the Children Act 2001. [3] HIQA does not operate in Northern Ireland, where the equivalent body is the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (the RQIA). [4]
The Authority has produced a number of reports and recommendations on the safety of care in both public and private hospitals. [5] [6] [1] HIQA is also tasked with inspecting hygiene standards in public hospitals. [7]
As well as performing hospital evaluations, HIQA is charged with implementing electronic health records [8] and information governance, [9] investigating waiting times, [10] and protecting whistleblowers. [11]
After the Leas Cross scandal, there was increased demand for inspection of both private and public nursing homes. As a result, HIQA was given powers to register, inspect and, via application to court, close nursing homes and similar residential services delivering sub-standard care. [12] [13]
HIQA has issued reports on foster care services, describing a lack of assessment of carers [14] and criticising the "significant failure" by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to monitor children in care. [15] In particular, HIQA raised concerns over the Dublin and North East areas. [16]