ISQUA17-2093SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATORS - MOVING FROM UNDERSTANDING TO STRUCTURED INTERACTION FOR ENHANCED PATIENT CARE

Abstract

Objectives: “A failure of communication between the many agencies to share their knowledge of concerns...Assumptions that monitoring, performance management or intervention was (the) responsibility of someone else...Relentless focus of healthcare regulator on policing compliance with standards” So stated Robert Francis in a presentation in 2012 on the Mid Staffordshire Hospital review he carried out, and published in 2010. While the responsibility lay with the hospital and its workforce, including statutory regulated professionals; these comments refer to the regulators of service and of professions. We ask how best to have greater co-working between these regulators to improve patient safety. Too often, change has come from bad practices - Shipman, Royal Bristol Infirmary - Best practice requires us to be proactive in addressing the need for tighter agreed interactions between service and professions' regulators - where can we work closer together? Many Bodies have memorandums of understanding (MOUs), but how effective are these when dealing with challenging issues? One good example is work between one regulator of professions, who is working with one regulator of services, to strengthen a voluntary code of professional conduct for employers in relation to their responsibilities for their regulated professions. We plan to seek information on good practice and other suggestions, that all regulators can learn from, through a survey. Should there be more legally robust links between Bodies? How can processes/procedures be improved? We plan to review what is currently in place; and to look at the impact on patients' safety. Methods: We propose to present a theoretical model as to how such interactions/relationships may work, through considering data exchanges, overarching frameworks at national level and other innovative practices. We have conducted a survey of regulators of doctors, nurses, social workers and some health and social care professions, as well as regulators of services in Ireland, UK and Ontario Canada. This survey will be completed by the end of February. the focus has been on what current interactions are taking place between these agencies, and what models would they suggest to improve working together, for patient safety. The presenters from Canada and Ireland are using their varied experiences and knowledge of professional and service regulation, to assist the research and practice currently available Team working on the presentation/research Deanna William, Ontario Canada, former regulator of pharmacists and now Risk Officer for Retirement Homes Regulators Authority in Ontario, Canada John Sweeney, Health Care Informed, Ireland who was involved in the initial setting up of service regulation in Ireland and now provides support to service regulators in Ireland, Australia, Brazil and the Middle East. Ginny Hanrahan CORU Ireland, regulator for 15 health and social care professions in Ireland and previously a senior manager in a regulated tertiary referral teaching hospital. Results: We will present the results at the ISQUA conference, but initial response, are indicating some practical ways to improve the cross sectoral work to enhance patient safety Conclusion: This research is a first step in looking at ways to improve working relationships between service and professional regulators, to the betterment of people who use the services and professionals they regulate.