IHPN Wales – Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) Regulation Inspections 

During the pandemic, HIW undertook virtual Quality Checks with a return to onsite visits of independent hospitals in 2022. Since the return to onsite visits of the seven acute providers within IHPN Wales membership, HIW completed one full onsite inspection and two IR(ME)R inspections in 2022 and a further IR(ME)R inspection in 2023. One provider who was a newly registered provider in 2022 at the time of this report, is yet to be inspected. 

Where HIW identify concerns about patient safety and serious breaches of the Regulations, they may issue a non-compliance notice to the service, which may lead to civil or criminal proceedings. However, overall, HIW inspectors found that safe and effective care is being provided to patients in acute independent healthcare facilities with patients expressing high levels of satisfaction with the care they received.  

The IR(ME)R inspections carried out in 2022/23 demonstrated good compliance with IR(ME)R. Where areas for improvement are found during IR(ME)R inspections, improvement plans are put in place at hospitals to address any concerns. 

In addition to the acute providers, within IHPN Wales Membership there are five mental health services, one Learning Disability and one Hospice provider. Inspections were undertaken by HIW in 2022 at two Independent mental health hospitals and the Learning Disability service and a further mental health inspection was carried out in 2023. Where areas for improvement are found during inspections, improvement plans were put in place. There was no inspection in 2022/23 for the hospice provider.