Healthcare Inspectorate Wales statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) is to stop its routine inspection and review programme from today, Tuesday 17 March.
Further to the decision to take a balanced, risk-based approach to work over the coming weeks, due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation, HIW has now made a decision to stop its routine inspection and review programme from today, Tuesday 17th March.
Alun Jones, Deputy Chief Executive of HIW, said:
“Whilst our role of checking whether standards in healthcare are being met is always important, we need to consider immediate government advice on COVID-19, the welfare of our own staff and the burden of any activities we conduct, at a time when healthcare services are under considerable pressure.
Our decision aims to help those who deliver healthcare services to concentrate all resources on keeping people safe during this global health emergency. This is also in line with the Welsh Government’s framework of actions which includes minimising regulatory requirements for health and care settings.
We will therefore be stopping routine inspections and review work from today until further notice. It may still be necessary to use our inspection powers in a very small number of cases when there is clear evidence to do so.”
Service providers will be made aware of these changes at the earliest opportunity.
We will continue to consider official advice and to reassess our decisions if the situation changes.