HSE Health and Safety Function Audit Reveals High Risks, No Mandate Since 2015
An internal audit revealed the HSE’s National Health and Safety Function (NHSF) is failing targets, risking serious incidents. Operating without a mandate since 2015, it lacks a system to track over 2,000 improvement plans. This occurs as 16 of 33 acute hospitals also lack a health and safety officer.
An internal audit of the HSE’s National Health and Safety Function (NHSF) found it is failing to meet targets, posing a high risk that «identified issues may not be properly addressed, potentially leading to serious incidents or injuries». Established in 2015, the NHSF has operated without a mandate and has not undergone a comprehensive management review due by the end of 2016.
The audit, released under Freedom of Information, identified a high risk due to the lack of a formal centralised tracking system for over 2,000 Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) generated from 174 audits in 2024. This prevents full monitoring and reporting on corrective actions. A medium risk was also noted for the failure to review the NHSF since its inception.
This comes as 16 of 33 acute hospitals lack a health and safety officer, including University Hospital Limerick, University Hospital Waterford, and Galway University Hospital. The HSE stated that hospitals without an officer can access NHSF resources like its National Helpdesk and Safety Clinics. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) expressed disappointment, urging the HSE to ensure full compliance with safety legislation.