Mr. Richard Corbridge:

Deputy Kelleher commented on the 10,000 devices but it should be noted that it does not actually mean a single device for 10,000 people. It means enough additional devices in primary care and community settings to allow people to have access to a device. The days of queuing up to use an Excel spreadsheet on one machine in one community centre needs to end. We need to have more machines in more places in order that people can have access to that kit. It does not necessarily mean a piece of kit for every single person that is in the system. Predominantly, they would not use a single piece of kit each if it were deployed into the system. That has been seen across many jurisdictions. The aim is to improve the access to the systems that are there.

If one looks at the maternity and newborn system in Cork and Kerry, for example, we are rolling out a large number of new devices called computers-on-wheels in order that there are touch screens on wards, enabling people to access information as they pass by rather than being expected to carry their own device with them. That is a really big and important part of where we are going in that space.

On the issue of flexibility around contracts, the HSE works with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO and the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, to make sure there are frameworks in place that do not lock us in to old equipment and to ensure we can continue to move forward. Things like mobile devices are in a good place in terms of the refresh rate, particularly in the past three years.

Compatibility with other jurisdictions is something that is very much EU-driven to allow the transfer of information. The IHI uses the same format as the NHS number which will give us the ability in the future to identify our patient information uniquely as if it were being shared with Northern Ireland or with the NHS. Behind the IHI is a code called the GS1, which is a global standard number that allows the number to identify a patient uniquely across the EU. The IHI has been built with exactly that in mind, which is very important.

The Deputy's last comments centred on collaboration and data analysis. Data analysis cannot be done easily today but with e-health Ireland in place, we will be able to conduct data analysis where it is appropriate, anonymised and where information is available. That is a key hook in terms of where we are going.