NI introduce Minimum Standards for independent healthcare

Health and Social Services Minister Edwin Poots has launched minimum care standards for independent healthcare establishments in Northern Ireland.

The standards set out the minimum requirements that independent healthcare facilities must achieve. They also set the level of service that the patients and clients using them can expect.

Mr Poots said: “These standards mean that every patient or client who uses an independent healthcare provider registered with RQIA will be assured of the minimum level of care they can expect to receive whether they access independent services privately or are referred through the Health and Social Care.”

The Minister added: “They go some way to ensuring patients and clients are well-treated and cared for and will create a benchmark against which providers can measure their services.”

The standards will be used by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) as part of its programme for the registration and inspection of independent healthcare establishments to assess and report on the quality of care delivered.

The Standards can be accessed here:  http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/phealth/sqs/sqsd-standards/sqsd-standards-care-standards.htm