Poots Launches Minimum Standards For Healthcare Providers

A set of minimum standards of care for independent healthcare establishments have been launched by Health and Social Services Minister Edwin Poots.

They set out the minimum standards that independent healthcare facilities must achieve, along with setting the level of service that the patients and clients using them can expect.

"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." Minister Poots said.

Adding: "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.

(MH/CD)