Access to investigations under Health Service Guidelines (HSG)

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your request (below) asking for information on what now
replaces suicide clusters as a criteria for triggering independent
investigations into adverse events occuring in mental health services.

The guidance to which you refer, 'Independent Investigation of adverse
incidents in mental health services' was issued by the Department of
Health in England. The Department of Health is responsible for health
services and adult social care policy in England only. Its
responsibilities in these areas do not extend to Northern Ireland, where
the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has
responsibility for health and social care services.

Guidance issued by the Department of Health in respect of health services
and adult social care policy does not therefore routinely apply to
Northern Ireland.

There are arrangements in place in Northern Ireland to ensure that
appropriate investigations are carried out into incidents in health and
social care services, and that any learning arising from such incidents is
disseminated to Health and Social Care providers. I attach for your
information a copy of DHSSPS guidance on incident investigation which
applies in Northern Ireland.

All cases of suspected suicide in Northern Ireland where the person has
had contact with mental health services in the 2 years preceding the
suspected suicide are required to be reported to the Regulation and
Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). RQIA monitors the incidence of such
cases, and the quality of subsequent investigations, to identify any
trends emerging.

You may also be interested to know that DHSSPS has commissioned a study of
suicide in Northern Ireland. The study is titled "Suicide and Homicide in
Northern Ireland: Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into
Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness". The Inquiry has,
since 1992, been recording details of suicides and homicides by people
with severe mental illness in order to identify preventative strategies.
Data from Northern Ireland has been collected since 1997 in relation to
people who have been using mental health services. DHSSPS has
commissioned the Inquiry to produce a specific report for Northern Ireland
only, based on data from 2001 - 2006. It will also report longitudinal
trends covering the years 1998 - 2006. The focus will be on establishing
how many cases there are, what are the common themes and what can be
learned from them about risk and how to reduce it. The report is expected
this summer.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Sean Scullion
Safety, Quality and Standards Directorate
DHSSPS
02890 520707

show quoted sections