The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

 14th EPSO Conference, Utrecht,12 October 2012

Glenn Houston, Chief Executive

Malachy Finnegan, Communications Manager

News and Media Attention for Supervisory Organisations

What can we learn from the Northern Ireland case of RQIA’s Independent Review of Incidents of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Neonatal Units in Northern Ireland?

RQIA Review Programme

• Planned review programme

• Commissioned reviews

Why was the Review Commissioned?

Outbreaks of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in two hospitals, resulting in four infant deaths from December 2011 to January 2012

To address significant public and political concern

To identify regional/national) learning to minimise the recurrence of such an outbreak

Timetable

19 January: Initial news coverage of infant deaths as a result of Pseudomonas

30 January: Review commissioned by Health Minister

30 March: Interim Report presented to Minister

4 April: Interim Report published and presented to NI Assembly

30 May: Final Report presented to Minister

31 May: Final Report published and presented to NI Assembly

Initial Media Coverage: January 2012

Further Coverage: January 2012

Announcement of Review: January 2012

Independent Review Team

Expert Reviewers– Former CE of Health Protection

Agency– Consultant Microbiologist– Consultant Neonatologist– Bacteriology Consultant– Neonatal Nurse– Medical Engineer– Lay reviewers from neonatal

death charities

External to Northern Ireland

Media and Public Affairs Strategy

Key Aims/Principles•openness, honesty, integrity•getting accurate information into the public domain as quickly as possible to allow immediate actions to be taken•making the review team and RQIA visible

Rationale•based on knowledge of local media and politicians, and expectations of NI population

Publication of Interim Report: April 2012

Publication of Interim Report: April 2012

Response from Department of Health

Publication of Final Report: May 2012

Health Minister’s Response

Learning• Managing expectations through clear communication• Importance of a strong review team• Speedy publication of reports/recommendations

demonstrated RQIA’s responsiveness – emphasised RQIA’s transparency– helped Minister’s confidence in RQIA and the reports findings– positive engagement with Health Committee – largely constructive media coverage …

• However…– the Terms of Reference not always understood/accepted by

external stakeholders (particularly families) – Other agendas at work – legal cases etc.

Questions and Answers

Further Information

Interim Report, March 2012http://www.rqia.org.uk/cms_resources/RQIA%20Independent%20Review%20of%20Pseudomonas%20Interim%20Report.pdf

Final Report, May 2012http://www.rqia.org.uk/cms_resources/Pseudomonas%20Review%20Phase%20II%20Final%20Report.pdf