Former CEO of Northern Trust comes out of retirement to take over as boss of health watchdog
THE interim chief executive of Northern Ireland’s health watchdog has stood down and been replaced by the former boss of the Northern Trust.
Tony Stevens has come out of retirement to take up the post of interim chief executive of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) following the departure of Dermot Parsons.
It comes after it emerged Mr Parsons threatened to resign from the top post at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming the Board of the RQIA had no confidence in his ability.
Mr Parsons wrote to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Michael Mcbride in May stating he felt his position was untenable after the RQIA Board raised concerns over the decision to scale back care home visits during the pandemic.
The board also expressed concerns about the redeployment of a number of RQIA’S senior executive team “with critical loss of experience” in the months before Mr Parsons was appointed interim chief executive. The row culminated in the mass resignation of the RQIA Board.
The RQIA is the body tasked with ensuring healthcare providers such as hospitals and care homes meet minimum safety standards.
A spokesman from the RQIA refused to say whether Mr Parsons remains with the organisation or provide an explanation for him stepping down as interim chief executive.
However, Christine Collins, interim chair of the RQIA Board, said: “I am delighted that Dr Stevens has agreed to take up post of interim chief executive at the RQIA on September 1.
“Dr Stevens brings considerable leadership experience and knowledge of the health and social care system, which will be invaluable as we reinforce and reshape the RQIA to face current and future challenges.” Meanwhile, Dr Stevens said: “I am pleased to be joining the experienced and dedicated team at RQIA at this challenging time for health and social care and the wider community. I look forward to leading RQIA in assuring the quality and safety of the health and social care services that people experience, and responding to the particular challenges that the current pandemic presents.”
Mr Stevens is the third person to be appointed as chief executive of the RQIA in six months. Olive Macleod stepped down as chief executive in March this year to take up the top job at the Public Health Agency. She was replaced by Mr Parsons who has now also left the job. The performance of the RQIA has come under the spotlight in recent years.
It came under fire following a damning investigation into conditions at a care home in Dunmurry, which is currently at the centre of a police investigation.
The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland expressed concerns that the RQIA did not act quickly enough to protect residents at Dunmurry Manor, which has since been renamed Oak Tree Manor.
And in June this year, Mr Parsons came under pressure to explain why he told the Stormont health committee in May that the RQIA was in agreement with a direction from the Department of Health to reduce care home inspections. In response to the question on the issue from chair Colm Gildernew, Mr Parsons said: “Our approach towards that was agreement.”
However, in an email sent to CMO Dr Michael Mcbride on April 29, Mr Parsons referred to “an appearance of a fundamental difference of approach between that promoted by the CMO, chief social worker and RQIA executive team members, and that upheld by the RQIA board”.
He continued: “I would also be grateful for your urgent advice as I believe that my position as interim chief executive in RQIA may be untenable... I am content to step out of this role if it will help resolve this dilemma.”
In an email sent to Dr Mcbride on May 4, Mr Parsons reiterated a desire to resign: “It is clear that RQIA Board does not have confidence in my performance in this role... I am unsure as to with whom I should discuss resignation... unfortunately I now believe my position is untenable.”