NI health watchdog governance was ‘missing’

The top of Northern Eire’s well being watchdog has mentioned its common governance processes have been “lacking” on the top of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Briege Donaghy, chief government of the Regulation and High quality Enchancment Authority (RQIA), advised the UK Covid-19 inquiry vital choices have been made “with out the efficient scrutiny and oversight”.

In 2020, a number of senior RQIA workers have been redeployed and its whole board resigned after a row over the dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Donaghy mentioned there was “anxiousness” inside the watchdog and Stormont’s Division of Well being to make sure what occurred would “by no means recur”.

The inquiry in London is analyzing the influence of the pandemic on the social care sector.

It was launched in 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who mentioned the federal government’s actions can be put “beneath the microscope”

It goals to contemplate authorities decision-making, steps taken to forestall the unfold of Covid in care properties, and their capability to answer the pandemic.

In June 2020 the entire RQIA board quit, claiming they weren’t consulted on a number of choices taken by the well being division.

These included reducing care home inspections and redeploying senior RQIA workers some months earlier to different well being our bodies.

An independent review in 2021 discovered a number of points led to the mass resignations, together with breakdowns in working relationships.

Ms Donaghy joined the RQIA in July 2021 as chief government.

She advised the inquiry that a number of senior expertise “was gone” when a number of senior workers have been redeployed throughout the pandemic.

“The common processes of governance have been lacking, and the problem and oversight of decision-making was not what it ought to have been,” she added.

Ms Donaghy, who beforehand labored in a senior position within the Northern Well being and Social Care Belief, mentioned it was “surprising” when the RQIA board resigned.

“Within the top of a pandemic, to be going through into such organisational points, I imply, it could not be welcome at any time however it was notably tough at the moment,” she mentioned.

She mentioned it meant vital choices have been being made “with out the efficient scrutiny and oversight”.

Ms Donaghy mentioned the RQIA final week signed off a “partnership settlement” with the Division of Well being following the unbiased overview by David Nicholl.

“It has taken us a substantial time to get so far,” she added.

“I feel it demonstrates the extent of tension on each the Division of Well being, and us in RQIA, to make sure what occurred and reported beneath the Nicholl report won’t ever recur.”

Ms Donaghy was additionally requested in regards to the withdrawal of bodily inspections of care properties for a interval initially of the pandemic.

The inquiry was advised that in March 2020 the Division of Well being issued a “path” to the RQIA to scale back its statutory inspection exercise.

Ms Donaghy mentioned though it was an instruction from the Stormont division, the watchdog’s senior group agreed with the choice.

She mentioned she understood there was a “concern of footfall” on the time, citing how a single inspector might be tasked with visiting a number of care properties.

The inquiry additionally heard how the variety of inspections of care properties haven’t returned to pre-pandemic ranges.

Within the yr to March 2020, there have been 1,408 inspections of nursing and residential care properties and domiciliary care companies.

The determine fell to 860 in 2020-21 and 988 in 2021-22.

In 2022-23 and 2023-24 the numbers have been 1,082 and 1,099 respectively.

Ms Donaghy mentioned that earlier than the pandemic “there was a really robust concentrate on attaining the goal”, however that the RQIA has since adopted a “hybrid” strategy.

“It is not about counting,” she added.

“It is not about that.

“It is about making certain we’re utilizing the data we’ve to drive regulatory efforts and guarantee high quality requirements are met.”