Northern Ireland Hospice Care

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NIHC Achieves HQS Accreditation ] Saturday, 10 May 2008

NIHC Achieves HQS Accreditation

Making the decision to undertake a voluntary quality assurance accreditation programme is not one that is taken on lightly. It requires the organisation to examine all its processes, systems, quality of care and environment against agreed standards of good practice. It involves all staff from the board of trustees and senior management team through to the housekeeping staff and volunteers. The process includes an external assessment by senior health care professionals who assess the work and service developments of the hospice against the quality standards. Northern Ireland Hospice Care formally started working with the accreditation programme in December 2004 and was surveyed by three healthcare professionals in November 2005. The hospice achieved accreditation in August 2006.

Northern Ireland Hospice Care is the only hospice within Ireland to have achieved accreditation against Standards for Hospice Services (2003). Accomplishment of accreditation demonstrates the commitment of Northern Ireland Hospice Care to quality and continuous quality improvement.

The process of participating in the accreditation programme and gaining the award will prepare the hospice for implementing the Quality Standards ‘Best Practice, Best Care’ published in 2006 and future mandatory inspections by the Health & Personal Social Services Regulation, Quality & Inspection Authority.

The Health Quality Service has internationally recognised healthcare quality improvement programmes and for an organisation to gain an accreditation award is considered prestigious. The Health Quality Service congratulates the Northern Ireland Hospice Care and looks forward to continuing to work with them.

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