The Regulation and Improvement Authority (Independent Health Care) (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

Amendment of the Independent Health Care Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

2.—(1) The Independent Health Care Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(1) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (13).

Amendment of regulation 2

(2) In regulation 2 (Interpretation), in paragraph (1)—

(a) after the definition of “health care professional” insert—

““insurance provider” means—

(a)

a person regulated by the Financial Services Authority who sells insurance, or underwrites the risk of such an insurance, or

(b)

the agent of such a person;”

(b) after the definition of “patient’s guide” insert—

““personal dental services” has the same meaning as in Article 3(7) of the Health Services (Primary Care) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (2); ” and

(c) after the definition of a “registered provider” insert—

““RQIA” means the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority;”.

Amendment of regulation 3

(3) In regulation 3 (Exceptions to the definition of independent hospital)-

(a) at the end of paragraph (g), omit “and”, and

(b) for paragraph (h) substitute the following paragraphs—

“(h) a surgery or consulting room (which is not part of a hospital) in which a medical practitioner provides medical services only under arrangements made on behalf of the patients by —

(i) their employer;

(ii ) a Northern Ireland department;

(iii) a prison or other establishment in which the patients are held in custody, other than pursuant to any provision of the Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1986(3); or

(iv) an insurance provider with whom the patients hold an insurance policy, other than a insurance policy which is solely or primarily intended to provide benefits in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental illness, disability or infirmity; and

(i) an establishment which has as its sole purpose the provision by a dental practitioner of general dental services (4), or personal dental services (5) and such an establishment shall not become an independent hospital as a result of the provision of listed services to a patient by such a dental practitioner”

Amendment of regulation 4

(4) In regulation 4 (1) (Prescribed techniques or technology)—

(a) at the end of sub-paragraph (c) delete “and”, and

(b) after sub-paragraph (d), there shall be added the following sub-paragraphs—

“(e) haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis; and

(f) hyperbaric therapy, being the administration of oxygen (whether or not combined with one or more other gases) through a mask to a patient who is in a sealed chamber which is gradually pressurised with compressed air, where such therapy is carried out by or under the supervision or direction of a medical practitioner, except where the primary use of that chamber is—

(i) pursuant to regulation 6(3)(b) of the Diving at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(6) or regulation 8 or 12 of the Work in Compressed Air Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004(7); or

(ii) otherwise for the treatment of workers in connection with the work which they perform.”

Insertion of regulation 4A

(5) After regulation 4 there shall be inserted the following regulation—

“Modification of Article 2(7) of the Order

4A.   Paragraph (7) of Article 2 of the Order shall be modified by substituting for sub-paragraph (b), the following sub-paragraph—

“(b) dental treatment;”.”.

Amendment of regulation 5

(6) In regulation 5 (Meaning of independent clinic)—

(a) In paragraph (1), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute —

“(b) unless paragraph (1A) applies, a surgery or consulting room in which a medical practitioner who provides no services in pursuance of the 1972 Order provides medical services of any kind (including psychiatric treatment).” and

(b) after paragraph (1), insert—

“(1A) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to an establishment where medical services are provided only under arrangements made on behalf of the patients by—

(a) their employer;

(b) a Northern Ireland department;

(c) a prison or other establishment in which the patients are held in custody, other than pursuant to any provision of the Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1986(8); or

(d) an insurance provider with whom the patients hold an insurance policy, other than an insurance policy which is solely or primarily intended to provide benefits in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental illness, disability or infirmity”.

Amendment of regulation 6

(7) For regulation 6 (Exception of undertaking from the definition of independent medical agency, substitute—

“6   For the purposes of the Order, any undertaking which consists of the provision of medical services by a medical practitioner only under arrangements made on behalf of the patients by—

(a) their employer;

(b) a Northern Ireland department;

(c) a prison or other establishment in which the patients are held in custody, other than pursuant to any provision of the Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1986; or

(d) an insurance company with whom the patients hold an insurance policy, other than an insurance policy which is solely or primarily intended to provide benefits in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental illness, disability or infirmity,

shall be excepted from being an independent medical agency.”

Insertion of regulation 9A (Requirements for statement of policies and procedures)

(8) There shall be inserted after Regulation 9 (Review of statement of purpose and patient’s guide) the following regulation—

“Requirements for statements of policies & procedures

9A.— (1) The registered person shall implement written statements of the policies to be applied and the procedures to be followed in or for the purposes of an establishment in relation to—

(a) the arrangements for admission or acceptance of patients, their transfer to a hospital where required and, in the case of an establishment which admits in-patients, their discharge;

(b) the arrangements for assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients;

(c) ensuring that the premises used by or for the purpose of an establishment are at all times fit for the purpose for which they are used;

(d) monitoring the quality and suitability of facilities and equipment;

(e) identifying, assessing and managing risks to employees, patients and visitors associated with the operation of the establishment;

(f) the creation, management, handling and storage of records and other information;

(g) the provision of information to patients and others;

(h) the recruitment, induction and retention of employees and their employment conditions;

(i) the grant and withdrawal of practising privileges to medical practitioners in establishments where such privileges are granted; and

(j) ensuring that, where research is carried out in an establishment, it is carried out with the consent of any patient or patients involved, is appropriate for the establishment concerned and is conducted in accordance with up-to-date and authoritative published guidance on the conduct of research projects.

(2) The registered person shall prepare and implement a written statement of the policies to be applied and the procedures to be followed for the purposes of an agency in relation to—

(a) the arrangements for transfer to a hospital, where required; and

(b) each of the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (b), (f), (g) and (h) of paragraph (1)

(3) The registered person shall prepare and implement written statements of policies to be applied and procedures to be followed in or for the purposes of an establishment, or for the purpose of an agency, which ensure that—

(a) the competence of each patient to consent to treatment is assessed;

(b) in the case of a competent patient, properly informed consent to treatment is obtained;

(c) in the case of a patient who is not competent, he is, so far as practicable, consulted before any treatment proposed for him is administered; and

(d) information about a patient’s health and treatment is disclosed only to those persons who need to be aware of that information in order to treat the patient effectively or minimise any risk of the patient harming himself or another person, or for the purpose of the proper administration of the establishment or agency.

(4) The registered person shall review the operation of each policy and procedure implemented under—

(a) this regulation

(b) regulation 23; and

(c) in so far as they apply to him, regulations 35, 39C and 39D

at intervals of not more than three years and shall, where appropriate, prepare and implement revised policies and procedures.

(5) The registered person shall make a copy of all written statements prepared in accordance with this regulation available for inspection by the RQIA.”

Insertion of regulations 39A to 39E

(9) There shall be inserted after Regulation 39 (Use of certain techniques or technology) the following regulations —

“”INDEPENDENT HOSPITALS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FOR MENTAL DISORDER

39A.   Regulations 39B to 39E apply to independent hospitals the main purpose of which, is to provide medical or psychiatric treatment for mental disorder.

Safety of patients and others

39B.— (1) In addition to the statement of policies and procedures to be prepared in accordance with regulation 9A, the registered person shall prepare and implement written statements addressing policies and procedures in relation to—

(a) assessment of a patient’s propensity to violence and self harm;

(b) the provision of information to employees as to the outcome of such an assessment;

(c) assessment of the effect of the layout of the hospital premises, and its policies and procedures, on the risk of a patient harming himself or another person; and

(d) the provision of training to enable employees to minimise risk of a patient harming himself or another person.

(2) The registered person shall in particular prepare and implement a suicide protocol, which requires—

(a) a comprehensive examination of the mental condition of each patient;

(b) an evaluation of the patient’s history of mental disorder, including identification of suicidal tendencies;

(c) an assessment of the patient’s propensity to suicide;

(d) if necessary, appropriate action to reduce the risk of the patient committing suicide.

Management of disturbed behaviour

39C   The registered person shall prepare and implement a written statement of policy setting out—

(a) how disturbed behaviour exhibited by a patient is to be managed;

(b) permitted measures of restraint and the circumstances in which they may be used;

(c) requirements for employees to report serious incidents of violence or self harm, including guidance as to how those incidents should be classified; and

(d) the procedure for review of such incidents and determination of the action which is to be taken subsequently.

Visitors

39D.   The registered person shall prepare and implement written policies and procedures in relation to patients receiving visitors.

Mental health records

39E.   The registered person shall ensure that any records which are required to be made under the Mental Health (Nurses, Guardianship, Consent to Treatment and Prescribed Forms) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986(9), and which relate to the treatment of a patient in an independent hospital, are kept for a period of not less than ten years beginning on the date on which the person to whom they relate ceases to be a patient in the hospital.”.

Amendment of regulation 42(Offences)

(10) For paragraph (1) of regulation 42 (Offences), there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“42.— (1) A contravention of any of the provisions of regulations 7, 8, 9A, 14, 15, 16(1) to (4), 17 to 32 and 34 to 40 shall be an offence.”

(11) For paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 (Information required in respect of persons seeking to carry on, manage or work at an establishment or agency) there shall be substituted the following paragraph:

“2.   Either—

(a) where a certificate is required for a position that falls within Regulation 9 of the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (10), an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under section 113B (11) of the Police Act 1997 which includes, as applicable, suitability information relating to adults (within the meaning of sections 113BB(2) of that Act) or suitability information relating to children (within the meaning of section 113BA(2) of that Act) or both; or

(b) in any other case, a criminal record certificate issued under section 113A of the Police Act 1997.”.

(12) In Schedule 3 (Period for which medical records must be retained), for Part I, there shall be substituted the following Part—

“PART 1

PERIOD FOR WHICH MEDICAL RECORDS MUST BE RETAINED

Type of Patient	Minimum period of retention
(a) Patient who was under the age of 17 years at the date on which the treatment to which the records refer was concluded.	Until the patient’s 27th birthday.
(b) Patient who was aged 17 years at the date on which the treatment to which the records refer was concluded.	Until the patient’s 27th birthday.
(c) Patient who died before attaining the age of 18 years	A period of 10 years beginning on the date of the patient’s death.
(d) Patient who was treated for mental disorder during the period to which the records refer	A period of 20 years beginning on the date of the last entry in the record
(e) Patient who was treated for mental disorder during the period to which the records refer and who died whilst receiving their treatment	A period of 10 years beginning on the date of the patient’s death.
(f) Patient whose records relate to treatment by a general practitioner.	A period of 10 years beginning on the date of the last entry
(g) All other cases.	A period of 10 years beginning on the date of the last entry in the record.”

(13) In Part II of Schedule 3 (Records to be maintained for inspection), at the end of paragraph 1 insert —

“(k) Where a patient has been received into guardianship under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the name, address and telephone number of the guardian.”.

(1)

S.R 2005 No. 174

(2)

S.I. 1997/1177 (N.I.7)

(3)

S.I 1986/595 (N.I.4)

(4)

See Article 2 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972

(5)

See Article 3 (7) of the Health Services (Primary Care) (N.I.) Order 1997

(6)

S.R. 2005 No.45

(7)

S.R. 2004 No.241

(8)

S.I. 1986/595 (N.I.4) as amended by S.I. 1994 No.429 (N.I.2) & S.I. 2004 No. 1272 (N.I.8)

(9)

S.R. 1986 No. 174 as amended by S.R. 1998 No. 427

(10)

S.I. 2008/542, the relevant amending instrument is S.I. 2009/2495

(11)

1997 (c.50). Sections 113A and 113B were inserted by section 163(2) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c.15) and amended by section 63(1) of, and paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c.47). Section 113BA was inserted by section 63(1) of, and paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.