Risk Management

The SCA’s risk management objective, and statutory duty, is to advise and assist State authorities and healthcare enterprises on measures to be taken to prevent the occurrence, or to reduce the incidence, of acts or omissions that may give rise to personal injury, property damage or clinical adverse events that could subsequently result in claims. The Agency utilises and promotes an integrated approach to risk and claims management as suggested by international best practice.

The “risk universe” indemnified by the State and managed by the SCA is extensive. For example, it includes over 200,000 State employees and all public healthcare service users (public healthcare has approximately 7 million contacts with members of the public per annum). It also includes public services that, by their nature, constitute higher risk activities such as the provision of clinical care in hospitals, Defence Forces personnel on operations overseas, members of An Garda Síochána on operational duty, customs inspections, emergency response services and custody of prisoners.

The personal injury and property damage risk management programme focuses on providing advice and support to State authorities and healthcare enterprises in relation to risk management structures, maintenance of buildings, fire safety, health and safety and environmental management. The Agency has a team of risk management professionals from science and engineering backgrounds and each Risk Manager manages a portfolio of client State authorities.

The SCA’s clinical risk management programme focuses on collaboration with risk managers and other personnel in healthcare enterprises to support patient safety. A multidisciplinary team of Clinical Risk Advisers has responsibility for providing advice and support to healthcare facilities within designated geographical and specialist areas, reflecting their individual experience and clinical backgrounds.

Specifically, the SCA provides a range of practical risk management services and advice including: 

• the hosting of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a web-based database which facilitates direct reporting of adverse events by State authorities and healthcare enterprises;
• the analysis of adverse events and claims data and the provision of this analysis to State authorities and healthcare enterprises in order to identify risk clusters;
• publication of risk management guidance and the provision of practical risk management tools (see our Resources section);
• the provision of information and training by means of seminars and publications, including the SCA website and newsletters;
• the provision of risk management solutions directly to State authorities and healthcare enterprises in respect of specific risk issues; 
• carrying out risk management reviews and assisting with the development and implementation of State authorities’ and healthcare enterprises’ risk management policies and procedures;
• supporting the implementation of SCA’s recommendations issued to State authorities and healthcare enterprises; and
• the provision of insurance, indemnity and liability advices to State authorities and healthcare enterprises.

Each year, the SCA carries out targeted litigation risk management work programmes in association with client State authorities and healthcare enterprises.  State authorities and healthcare enterprises who have actively engaged in SCA supported programmes have shown significant reduction in the numbers and costs of adverse events and a consequent reduction in the numbers and cost of the claims.