Jimmy Devins (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

We are in the midst of reform of the health service and it is hoped this reform will take many different shapes and sizes. I welcome the fact that information technology or IT services will be centralised. Until now, IT services have been run on an ad hoc basis by each health board. In the past, certain health boards could not communicate with others through their IT services. I hope this problem will soon be a thing of the past.

Arising out of the fact that IT services will be centralised, I ask the Minister of State to give serious consideration to the introduction of medical smart cards. Everyone is aware that patient records are extremely important. Most GPs now keep comprehensive computerised records of their patients' histories, including information on drugs they are taking, their relevant past medical details, allergies they may have, their blood groups, etc. When a patient is referred to a hospital, it is frequently the case that all that accompanies them is a letter. Sometimes such letters are comprehensive and outline in great detail the information to which I have just referred. In many cases, however, tests are duplicated in hospitals.

Let us consider a case where a patient becomes ill while away from home. A doctor in a hospital or the GP who sees him will frequently not have access to the information relative to him. I propose, therefore, that each patient should have a smart card, similar to a bank card, to carry. All the relevant information could be stored on the card. Whoever sees the patient would then be able to access the information immediately. There will be situations where patient confidentiality could be disturbed. I propose, therefore, that each patient would be given a unique PIN number — again, similar to that which accompanies one's bank card — of which only he or she would have knowledge. Introducing smart cards would represent a strong step forward, while PIN numbers would ensure that patient confidentiality would be totally and utterly maintained.

In light of the reforms being put in place, I ask the Minister of State to seriously consider the introduction of such a card. I understand that such cards are available in certain states in Australia and that the system is working well.

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