Extension to the term of the Interim Chair of The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
Date published:
Health Minister, Robin Swann has announced an extension to the term of the Interim Chair of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).
Ms Christine Collins’s appointment will be extended from 18 June 2021 to a date not later than 31 March 2022.
The RQIA Chair position attracts an annual remuneration of £19,387 with a time commitment of 2-3 days per week.
This appointment is made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
The 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.
The Board of the RQIA consists of a Non-Executive Chair and not more than twelve other Non-Executive Members appointed by the Department.
Notes to editors:
1. Ms Christine Collins MBE retired from a career in the Civil Service in 2005. Since retirement, she has focussed on human rights and advocacy; with a particular interest in health and social care, and those living with disability or rare disease. Ms Collins was the founding Chair of the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership; and a Patient Public Voice representative on the UK Rare Disease Advisory Group from its inception until April 2018. She 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 Commissioner at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission from 2011 to 2017. She is a member of the Duty of Candour Work Stream, part of the implementation programme for recommendations arising from the Inquiry into Hyponatremia Related Deaths; and is the Chair of the Patient and Client Council. This position attracts a remuneration of £18,089 per annum and carries a time commitment of 1.5 days per week.
2. Appointments to the RQIA are made with the approval of the Health Minister.
3. All public 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.
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