About the Health Information and Quality Authority -- Overview of the Health Information function of HIQA -- Introduction -- Purpose of the national standards -- HIQA's relevant legislative remit – Health Act 2007 -- Scope of the national standards -- Information management -- Importance of good information management -- Principles underpinning the national standards -- Structure of the national standards -- Summary of the national standard statements -- Principle 1: A human rights-based approach -- Standard 1.1: Uphold people's rights relating to information -- Standard 1.2: Protect privacy and confidentiality -- Principle 2: Safety and wellbeing -- Standard 2.1: Optimise the accessibility, use and value of information -- Standard 2.2: Undertake effective stakeholder engagement -- Principle 3: Responsiveness -- Standard 3.1: Align with best practice regarding standards and agreed definitions -- Standard 3.2: Enhance data quality -- Standard 3.3: Ensure data security -- Standard 3.4: Develop staff capability and capacity for information management -- Principle 4: Accountability -- Standard 4.1: Develop strong organisational governance, leadership and management -- Standard 4.2: Implement strategy for information management -- Standard 4.3: Promote effective performance assurance and risk management -- Standard 4.4: Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and codes of practice -- References -- Key terms used in this report -- Glossary of abbreviations -- Appendix 1: How the national standards were developed.

These national standards aim to contribute to safer better care by improving the management of health and social care information. They provide evidence-based principles, standards and features to guide organisations in the effective collection, management, use and sharing of health and social care information, with emphasis on human rights, safety and wellbeing, responsiveness, accountability, data quality, information security, governance and compliance.