Consultants urge Government to expedite delivery of electronic health records
Former HSE Head of Digital Transformation believes world leading EHR system can be developed for fraction of the proposed €1.8 billion
Ireland is currently 15 years behind most developed countries when it comes to digital health, says Maynooth University Professor;- The health service has potential to ‘leapfrog’ other countries by giving patients access to their personal electronic health record on their phone;
- Government should publish new digital health strategy and long-awaited Health Information Bill without further delay to bring clarity on Digital Health funding and roll-out targets;
- IHCA President Prof Rob Landers says: “This is essential to ensure Ireland has a fit-for-purpose national health information system that enhances patient care and treatment and supports better planning and delivery of health services.”
A Professor of Innovation at Maynooth University says that Ireland is in a prime position to develop the most advanced electronic health record (EHR) system in the world if the appropriate strategy and funding is forthcoming from Government.
Speaking in a new video as part of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association’s (IHCA) Care Can’t Wait campaign, Prof Martin Curley urged the Government to expedite the roll out of electronic health records and other digital systems by establishing an independent digital health agency which would oversee their deployment.
Ireland is currently 15 years behind the majority of developed countries when it comes to digital health capabilities. However, Prof Curley says Ireland could leapfrog other countries and bypass an ‘entire cycle of investment’ if Government embraces the latest innovations.
Prof Curley says this can be done by adopting the most up to date technology which would allow every person in the country to possess a personal EHR on their phone. The target under the ‘EU Digital Decade’ policy is that 100% of EU citizens will have access to their own electronic health records in just six years’ time.1
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly recently estimated that a regional deployment of EHRs is likely to cost between €200m and €300m for each of the six new Health Regions – or up to €1.8bn nationally.2 The recently published HSE National Service Plan allocated just €155m in capital funding to its eHealth Division in 2024, together with a €259m operational budget and €55m for various cyber security measures.
Prof Curley, a former Head of Digital Transformation at the HSE, believes we could build the most advanced electronic health record system in the world for a fraction of the €1.8bn proposed.
“Technology has advanced so much, and this will allow us to build a health service where the patient is at the centre. This would be a leapfrog strategy, potentially avoiding a whole cycle of investment and implementation, to create a world leading digital health system in Ireland and more importantly better health outcomes for all.
“In Ireland we have 21st century clinicians and often 21st century medicines and equipment, but we have Dickensian style medical records and Victorian style Health systems. This has to change. It literally is sometimes a matter of life or death.
“It has been Government policy since 2013 that we would have a digital health agency. HIQA have issued several reports saying this is what we need to do. A starting point is that, separate from the HSE, we need to establish a digital health agency that is responsible for delivery of electronic health records and other digital systems.”
The IHCA has called on the Government to publish its Digital Health Strategic Framework (2024-2030) without further delay to bring clarity on its e-health funding plans and roll-out targets for EHRs.
President of the IHCA Prof Rob Landers has also called for the long-awaited Health Information Bill to be published in parallel with the new digital health strategy. “This is essential to ensure Ireland has a fit-for-purpose national health information system that enhances patient care and treatment and supports better planning and delivery of health services.
“The solutions to the major difficulties impacting on the Irish health service are clear and are all about building extra capacity, appointing more Consultants, and giving them the tools to do their work. Those tools include the development of an advanced and efficient digital health system, the benefits of which include improved accessibility, efficient workflow and most importantly enhanced patient care and safety.
“With so many Irish hospital records still paper-based, there is an urgent need to fund a national Electronic Health Record hospital wide system without delay. A business case for a national EHR was submitted to the Department of Public Expenditures and Reform (DPER) as far back as 2016. However, DPER wanted this to be validated first in the National Children’s Hospital before approving for the wider health service.3
“The Association is concerned that eight years later we still do not have sanction for a national EHR, and work in still ongoing between the HSE and Department of Health to agree a revised business case for this.4 We need Government to take decisive action in order to secure this vital component of our health infrastructure.”
ENDS
Prof Martin Curley’s comments were made in a new video released on social media today by the IHCA as part of its #CareCantWait campaign.
The video is available here.
Notes:
1. Europe’s Digital Decade: digital target for 2023: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/europes-digital-decade-digital-targets-2030_en
2. Dáil PQ response from Minister Stephen Donnelly to Deputy Cathal Crowe, 23 January 2024: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-01-23/591/
3. HSE PQ response 4524/22 from Interim Chief Information Officer Fran Thompson to Deputy David Cullinane, 10 February 2022: https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/personalpq/pq/2022-pq-responses/february-2022/pq-4524-22-david-cullinane.pdf
4. Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, 6 December 2023: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_health/2023-12-06/3/
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