Re-appointment of the Chair of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has re-appointed Dr Ian Carson as Chair of the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) for a further four-year term.

The re-appointment takes effect from 1 June 2010.

Notes to editors:

1. The Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is the independent body responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, and encouraging improvements in the quality of those services. Their role is to ensure that health and social care services in Northern Ireland are accessible, well managed and meet the required standards, RQIA work to ensure there is openness, clarity and accountability in the management and delivery of all these services.

2. The board of the RQIA consists of a non-executive Chair and 12 non-executive members.

3. The Chair of RQIA receives annual remuneration of £17,684.

4. The appointment was made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are no specific qualifications for appointment.

5. The appointment was made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointment for Northern Ireland.

6. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. Dr Carson declared that he had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

7. Dr Ian Carson, MB BCH BAO; MD, FFARCSI, lives in Belfast. Until his retirement, Dr Carson had been Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS, from 2002 to 30 April 2006. Prior to this, he was Consultant Anaesthetist to the Cardiac Surgical Unit, Royal Victoria Hospitals since 1975 and Trust Medical Director at the Royal Group of Hospitals & Dental Hospital HSS Trust from 1993 to 2002. Dr Carson was initially appointed as Chair of the RQIA from 1 June 2006 to 31 May 2010. Dr Carson brings experience and knowledge of quality and safety matters in health and social care. He has developed and maintained effective working relationships with key stakeholders locally and with comparable organisations in the UK and Ireland. He has strong leadership skills and with a new Corporate Strategy in place has positioned RQIA as an effective health and social care regulator. Dr Carson holds no other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

8. Media enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0571. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.