A Decade of Impact: RCPI’s Postgraduate Certificate in Quality Improvement Leadership in Healthcare

Since 2011, the programme has supported over 250 workplace-based quality improvement projects, delivered by more than 800 healthcare professionals nationwide.

For more than a decade, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s Postgraduate Certificate in Quality Improvement Leadership in Healthcare has played a significant role in building improvement capability across Ireland’s health system.

Originally launched in 2011 as the Diploma in Leadership and Quality in Healthcare, the programme was developed in partnership with the HSE’s National Quality and Patient Safety Directorate (formerly the Quality Improvement Directorate). Its aim was clear: to equip clinical and managerial leaders with the skills, confidence and networks needed to lead meaningful and measurable improvement in patient care.

Since then, the programme has evolved in response to emerging evidence, national priorities and the lived experience of learners, patients and healthcare staff. To date, 28 cohorts have been delivered with over 800 clinicians, managers and allied health professionals completing the programme. Participants have come from every region of Ireland and across all parts of the health service, undertaking approximately 250 workplace-based quality improvement projects.

These projects have delivered tangible benefits across a wide range of settings including acute and emergency care, paediatrics, mental health, chronic disease management and palliative care. Graduates have applied structured quality improvement methods to improve patient safety, reduce waiting times, enhance person-centred care and improve service efficiency, demonstrating the real-world impact of quality improvement leadership in practice.

A defining strength of the programme has been its long-standing partnership between RCPI and the HSE. For over 15 years, this collaboration has ensured the programme remains aligned with national quality and patient safety priorities, supported through co-design, co-funding and shared strategic vision. The HSE continues to support participant engagement and showcases graduate learning through national education and dissemination initiatives.

The programme is delivered by a multidisciplinary faculty combining clinical, academic, leadership and patient expertise. Leadership from national and international experts, alongside patient partners, has ensured that learners gain not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical skills required to lead improvement in complex healthcare systems.

Looking ahead, RCPI continues to strengthen alumni engagement and evaluation of long-term impact, ensuring that quality improvement capability is sustained and scaled across the health service. As the programme enters its next decade, it remains closely aligned with RCPI’s Healthcare Leadership strategy and its commitment to patient safety, professional development and continuous improvement.

Reflecting on the programme’s impact, Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, President of RCPI, said:

“The evolution of this qualification into the Postgraduate Certificate in Quality Improvement Leadership in Healthcare reflects both its maturity and its impact. RCPI is proud to continue its partnership with the HSE in strengthening leadership capability and supporting a culture of continuous improvement throughout our health service. The achievements of our graduates demonstrate what is possible when healthcare professionals are empowered to lead meaningful change.”

Find out more about RCPI’s Postgraduate Certificate in Quality Improvement Leadership in Healthcare