Cabinet plans are being prepared to launch a nationwide electronic healthcare record (EHR) system across the UK health service. This would enable digital viewing of patient medical details by healthcare professionals. This move comes amid rising criticism of the state’s slow efforts towards health service digitalisation. Past errors in the existing information system have been pointed out in 2021 by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), citing “severe shortfalls”. Moreover, the method of managing patient data has been ineffective, often done via distinct electronic systems or paper-based systems, which can potentially harm public safety.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is expected to present a memorandum to the Cabinet encapsulating the Digital Framework, a sizable restructuring of the current information system used in the health service. Included in this is the creation of a nation-wide patient application, the completion of a community health record system and the final processes of acquiring a common national healthcare record.
The proposed common healthcare record will enable swift access to pertinent information such as a patient’s current medication, allergies, recent blood test findings and any other relevant clinical documents, like ongoing treatment plans, by doctors and other healthcare professionals.
This will expedite clinical decision-making by doctors and nurses based on a broad understanding of the patient’s medical history, and will support post-hospital discharge care continuity. Additionally, patients will also be able to view their own healthcare details.
The estimated costs for the system have not been specified, but an assertion from a 2016 10-year business plan highlighted that rolling out a nationwide EHR system could incur costs of up to €875 million. As these costs have been escalating, the actual amount is likely to be considerably higher.
Ireland has fallen behind in terms of digitalisation as compared to other European nations, with EHR systems still not fully in place.
In January 2023, HSE’s previous head of digital transformation, Prof Martin Curley, resigned from his position, expressing his impediment in introducing new technological solutions due to senior administrators.
Prof Curley recently stated that the Republic is nearly “15 years delayed compared to most advanced nations regarding digital health”.
The modifications in the management and sharing of patient data is pivotal for the successful implementation of Sláintecare – the Government’s decade-long strategy to restructure the health service and amalgamate health and social care across state offerings.
The speed of these implementations by the HSE would be dependent on factors like the availability of dedicated funds and resources.