The NHQI Programme has agreed on five key quality indicators which are published in the national data report each year, and which are most important for measuring the quality of the histopathology service delivered to patients.
These areas are 1) Intradepartmental Consultation, 2) Turnaround Times, 3) Frozen Section, 4) Addendum Reporting and 5) Multidisciplinary Team Review and 6)Autopsy. Targets have been set to guide laboratories towards best practice.
Each hospital laboratory collects specific information related to these key quality indicators which is then sent to a HSE-owned national database.
The NHQI Programme gathers information from each of the laboratories taking part and analyses data on these important activities. Please click here to see detailed explanations for each of these key quality indicators.
Each laboratory collects the information needed by the NHQI Programme. A medical laboratory scientist first reviews the information, uploads it to the HSE owned national database and then requests the consultant histopathologist to approve it before it can be used by the NHQI Programme or locally for the purpose of clinical audit or quality improvements.
All public and voluntary hospital laboratories provide information for the NHQI Programme, this is a total of 21.
In addition, seven private hospital laboratories also provide information for the programme at this time.
No, the NHQI Programme does not collect any information that could identify an individual patient.
The NHQI Programme publishes a report every year on how laboratories have performed in terms of these key quality areas in the previous years, also providing a comparison over a number of years.
This is useful to see where laboratories have continuously improved over time and also to identify areas where more help is needed to reach the targets.
This information can inform laboratory teams and the hospital management where improvements for patient care are most needed.
All information collected by the NHQI Programme is stored in secure systems. The staff that handle the information are trained on how to comply with all relevant regulations on data protection.
No, this is not possible as the NHQI programme does not have any information that can be used to identify an individual patient.
No, this is not necessary as no personal information is used by the programme. Personal information is that which could identify a patient.