HIQA has established new structures to provide evidence-based advice and support to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Director of Health Technology Assessment and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Since March 2020, HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment Directorate has been providing research evidence to support the work of NPHET, NPHET Expert Advisory Group, other NPHET subgroups and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as part of the public health response to COVID-19.”
“This structural change sees HIQA taking the lead on developing evidence-based advice to inform public health policy, advice and practice in the context of COVID-19. To do this, we have set up a dedicated evidence synthesis team and a COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. This work is in line with our functions under Section 8 of Health Act 2007.”
HIQA’s advice to NPHET is informed by research evidence developed by HIQA’s COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team, with expert input from HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. The COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group is a multidisciplinary group, comprising nominated representatives from the relevant clinical specialities and areas of expertise, methodology experts and public representation.
Dr Ryan said, “This robust process will ensure that public health decisions continue to be informed by rapid access to the best available evidence relevant to the outbreak at each stage of the pandemic. Our work supports the diverse evidence needs of NPHET in leading the national public health response to COVID-19.”
The group met for the first time on September 29.
Membership of HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group:
| Dr Niamh Bambury | Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, HSE- Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
| Prof Karina Butler | Consultant Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist, Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin & Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee |
| Dr Jeff Connell | Assistant Director, UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin |
| Dr Eibhlín Connolly | Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health |
| Prof Máire Connolly
|
Adjunct Professor of Global Health and Development, National University of Ireland, Galway |
| Prof Martin Cormican | Consultant Microbiologist & National Clinical Lead, HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Team |
| Ms Sinead Creagh | Medical Scientist, Laboratory Manager at Cork University Hospital & Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine |
| Dr Ellen Crushell* | Consultant Paediatrician, Dean, Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland & Co-National Clinical Lead, HSE Paediatric/Neonatology Clinical Programme |
| Dr John Cuddihy | Specialist in Public Health Medicine & Interim Director, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
| Dr Cillian de Gascun | Consultant Virologist & Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin |
| Dr Lorraine Doherty | National Clinical Director Health Protection, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
| Ms Josephine Galway | National Director of Nursing, Infection Prevention Control and Antimicrobial Resistance, AMRIC Division, HSE- Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
| Dr Vida Hamilton | Consultant Anaesthetist & National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospital Operations Division, HSE |
| Dr David Hanlon | General Practitioner & National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Primary Care/Clinical Strategy and Programmes, HSE |
| Dr Patricia Harrington | Head of Assessment, Health Technology Assessment, HIQA |
| Dr Derval Igoe | Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
| Prof Mary Keogan | Consultant Immunologist & National Clinical Lead , HSE Clinical Programme for Pathology |
| Dr Siobhán Kennelly | Consultant Geriatrician & National Clinical & Advisory Group Lead, Older Persons, HSE |
| Ms Sarah Lennon | Executive Director, SAGE Advocacy |
| Mr Andrew Lynch | Business Manager, Office of the National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead – Mental Health, HSE |
| Dr Gerry McCarthy * | Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine |
| Prof Paddy Mallon | Consultant in Infectious Diseases, St Vincent’s University Hospital & HSE Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases |
| Dr Eavan Muldoon* | Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, National Clinical Lead for CIT and OPAT programmes & HSE Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases |
| Dr Desmond Murphy | Consultant Respiratory Physician & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Respiratory Medicine |
| Dr John Murphy | Consultant Paediatrician & Co-National Clinical Lead, HSE Paediatric/Neonatology Clinical Programme and |
| Dr Gerard O’Connor | Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital HSE Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine |
| Ms Michelle O’Neill | HRB-CICER Programme Manager, Health Technology Assessment Directorate, HIQA |
| Dr Orlaith O’Reilly | Specialist in Public Health Medicine &Joint Clinical Lead, HSE Integrated Programme for Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease |
| Dr Mary O’Riordan | Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE — Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) |
| Dr Margaret B. O’Sullivan | Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Department of Public Health, HSE South & Chair, National Zoonoses Committee |
| Dr Michael Power | Consultant Intensivist, Beaumount Hospital & National Clinical Lead, HSE Clinical Programme for Critical Care |
| Dr Máirín Ryan (Chair) | Director of Health Technology Assessment & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, HIQA |
| Dr Lynda Sisson | Consultant in Occupational Medicine, Dean of Faculty of Occupational Medicine, RCPI & HSE National Clinical Lead for Workplace Health and Well Being |
| Prof Susan Smith | Professor of Primary Care Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
| Dr Patrick Stapleton | Consultant Microbiologist, UL Hospitals Group, Limerick & Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists |
| Dr Conor Teljeur | Chief Scientist, Health Technology Assessment, HIQA |
| Ms Anne Tobin | Assessment and Surveillance Manager, Medical Devices, Health Products Regulatory Authority |
