In Ireland, new national patient experience surveys are to be launched that will also be conducted from next year to feed the patients’ voice for the first time into statistical health service quality reports. The surveys, a key patient safety initiative between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) will improve understanding of the performance, quality and safety of the health service, as well as helping inform service development and planning. Findings from the national patient experience survey will be included in the report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System, published by the DoH on an annual basis.
A National Patient Safety Office will also be established in the Department of Health later this year. This Office would lead a programme of significant patient safety measures focused on initiatives such as new legislation, establishment of a National Patient Advocacy Service, introduction of patient safety surveillance systems, and setting up a National Advisory Council for patient safety.