Expression of interest: accreditation of the certification of ISO 7101:2023 for management systems of healthcare organisations

UKAS is proposing to establish a project to develop accreditation for ISO/IEC 17021-1, Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems for Certification of ISO 7101:2023, Healthcare organization management – Management systems for quality in healthcare organizations – Requirements.

From this expression of interest notice, UKAS will determine the demand and priority for developing accreditation in this area. Therefore, please could you register your interest in this activity to UKAS via email by 31 December 2024.

Organisations that wish to participate are asked to provide the following information:

• Name of organisation
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Current involvement in healthcare management system assurance

Organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary. Following this meeting, conformity assessment bodies will be required to submit a formal application to UKAS for the scope of accreditation sought and an agreement to the terms and conditions of the pilot programme before their participation is confirmed. There will be an opportunity to ask any scope specific questions on the details of the pilot programme at this stage.

Please note that if a development project is established, a pilot programme will be required whereby there would be a development fee associated with participation in addition to the normal assessment fees.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would also like to hear from technical experts that may wish to support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of accreditation criteria and process.

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties, and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.