RQIA head switches roles to take control of Public Health Agency in coronavirus fight

head of Northern Ireland’s health watchdog has been handed a key role in the fight to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic, it can be revealed.

Olive Macleod has temporarily stepped down as chief executive of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to lead the Public Health Agency (PHA) instead.

It comes after Valerie Watts, who had been interim chief executive of the PHA since October 2016, was stood down from the post.

Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly revealed the development in a letter to NHS colleagues in which he said: “I am overwhelmed by the way you are rallying together to ensure that we continue to provide the best advice and safe care in these very difficult times.

“In a health crisis such as we are seeing, the roles undertaken by the PHA and Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) become even more critical to our ability to work regionally in meeting public need.

“Until now, and on an interim basis, Valerie Watts has been acting in the capacity of chief executive of the PHA alongside her substantive role as chief executive of the HSCB.

“While I am very grateful to Valerie for doing this, and her stewardship of PHA, in the curthe rent circumstances this approach is no longer tenable.”

Meanwhile, the RQIA is to be led by Dermot Parsons, who was previously the organisation’s director of assurance, while Ms Macleod takes a lead role in Northern Ireland’s battle against Covid-19.

Alongside the Department of Health, the PHA has been developing strategies, policies and educating the public on how best to protect themselves from coronavirus.

Raising awareness of the symptoms of Covid-19 and encouraging people to self-isolate and follow social distancing measures are two vital strands in the effort to save lives across the globe.

failure of the Irish Government to extend a coronavirus hardship payment to people who live in Northern Ireland but work and pay taxes in the Republic has been described as going against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement by a Donegal TD.

Sinn Fein’s Padraig Mac Lochlainn said he had been contacted by dozens of people who live in either Londonderry or Strabane but work in Donegal who have been left out of the fund.

Among those whose staff have fallen through this safety net are key workers at the Foyle Hotel in Moville in Co Donegal.

Owner and celebrity chef Brian Mcdermott said: “We have had to close down the hotel because of the pandemic and lay off staff but this payment of €350 came through quite quickly for 75% of them but the 25% who live in Derry didn’t get the payment.

“This has left us with additional worries about a return to business because the workers it affects include key members of staff.

“I firmly believe people should get from the pot they pay into and the workers I employ from Derry all pay their contributions to the Republic and should get this pandemic payment.”

North East Donegal TD Mr Mac Lochlainn said his party leader had written to the Irish Governthe ment but had not yet received a response.

Mr Mac Lochlainn said: “This scheme was set up for workers whose employers through no fault of their own had to make their staff redundant even temporarily because of the coronavirus restrictions.

“While it has worked well for workers who live in the Republic, workers who live in the North but who work in the Republic and pay their taxes here have been excluded from the scheme.

“They have been left blowing in the wind and quite frankly it is a disgrace. And in my humble opinion it is definitely against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.”