Appointment of the Chair to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

Health Minster Robin Swann has announced the appointment of the Chair of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).

Ms Christine Collins’ appointment commenced on 01 October 2022 and will end on a date not later than 30 September 2026.

The RQIA Chair position attracts an annual remuneration of £19,777 with a time commitment of 2-3 days a week.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.

RQIA is accountable to the Department on issues of governance and assurance, but is an independent health and social care regulatory body, whose relationship with the Department and other HSC bodies is driven by its independent role in keeping the Department informed about the availability and quality of services and regulatory adherence. It has a wider responsibility to encourage improvement in the quality of services.

The Authority comprises a Chair and not more than 12 other Members appointed by the Department.

Notes to editors: 

1. Christine Collins MBE retired from the Civil Service in 2005. Since retirement she has focussed on human rights and advocacy, with a particular interest in health and social care, disability, and rare disease. Ms Collins was the founding Chair of the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership; a Patient Public Voice representative on the UK Rare Disease Advisory Group from its inception until April 2018; and is actively involved in the development and implementation of both the UK and Northern Ireland Rare Disease Strategies and Implementation Plans. Ms Collins was a Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner from 2011 to 2017. She is a member of the Duty of Candour Work Stream, part of the implementation programme for recommendation arising from the Inquiry into Hyponatremia Related Deaths. She served as Chair of the Patient and Client Council from 2019 to 2022; and was appointed as interim Chair of the RQIA in June 2020.

2. Appointments to RQIA are made with the approval of the Health Minister.

3. 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 to be published.  Ms Collins has declared that she has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

4. Ms Collins holds no other public appointments.

5. For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk

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7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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