1. The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority 14th EPSO Conference, Utrecht, 12 October 2012 Glenn Houston, Chief Executive Malachy Finnegan, Communications Manager

2. News and Media Attention for Supervisory Organisations What can we learn from the Northern Ireland case of RQIA’s Independent Review of Incidents of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Neonatal Units in Northern Ireland?

3. RQIA Review Programme Planned review programme Commissioned reviews

4. Why was the Review Commissioned? Outbreaks of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in two hospitals, resulting in four infant deaths from December 2011 to January 2012 To address significant public and political concern To identify regional/national) learning to minimise the recurrence of such an outbreak

5. Timetable 19 January: Initial news coverage of infant deaths as a result of Pseudomonas 30 January: Review commissioned by Health Minister 30 March: Interim Report presented to Minister 4 April: Interim Report published and presented to NI Assembly 30 May: Final Report presented to Minister 31 May: Final Report published and presented to NI Assembly

6. Initial Media Coverage: January 2012

7. Further Coverage: January 2012

8. Announcement of Review: January 2012

9. Independent Review Team Expert Reviewers –Former CE of Health Protection Agency –Consultant Microbiologist –Consultant Neonatologist –Bacteriology Consultant –Neonatal Nurse –Medical Engineer –Lay reviewers from neonatal death charities External to Northern Ireland

10. Media and Public Affairs Strategy Key Aims/Principles openness, honesty, integrity getting accurate information into the public domain as quickly as possible to allow immediate actions to be taken making the review team and RQIA visible Rationale based on knowledge of local media and politicians, and expectations of NI population

11. Publication of Interim Report: April 2012

13. Response from Department of Health

14. Publication of Final Report: May 2012

15. Health Minister’s Response

16. Learning Managing expectations through clear communication Importance of a strong review team Speedy publication of reports/recommendations demonstrated RQIA’s responsiveness –emphasised RQIA’s transparency –helped Minister’s confidence in RQIA and the reports findings –positive engagement with Health Committee –largely constructive media coverage … However… –the Terms of Reference not always understood/accepted by external stakeholders (particularly families) –Other agendas at work – legal cases etc.

17. Questions and Answers

18. Further Information Interim Report, March 2012 http://www.rqia.org.uk/cms_resources/RQIA%20 Independent%20Review%20of%20Pseudomonas %20Interim%20Report.pdf Final Report, May 2012 http://www.rqia.org.uk/cms_resources/Pseudomo nas%20Review%20Phase%20II%20Final%20Rep ort.pdf