John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 223: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if information technology systems operated by each health board are compatible and if they are linked to the Department's system; if the numbers employed by the health boards and Department can now be quantified by grade and location; if the systems can give an accurate figure on information such as the number of medical card holders in the country and their age profile; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26854/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In recent years, my Department has implemented a policy of enterprise-wide systems in relation to the development of all new information systems, thus providing for the compatibility and interoperability of systems on a health service-wide basis. Major enterprise-wide systems implementations are ongoing in a number of areas. A major system is currently being rolled out throughout the service in the human resources area, PPARS systems, and system design and development is ongoing in the financial resources area. Plans are at an advanced stage for similar implementations in the patient care area. A national client index is being developed in the health service which will underpin client oriented systems.

The general medical services (payments) board is satisfied that they can provide comprehensive high quality information on medical card holders from their systems and this may be analysed in a variety of ways, including age profile of card holders. Analysis of information on health services personnel is vastly improved in those health board areas where the PPARS system is already running. It is anticipated that the PPARS system will be implemented in all health board areas by the end of 2005.

All new information systems developments will be conducted in the context of the national health information strategy, which was published earlier this year, and the more technically oriented information and communications strategy, which will follow shortly. This will ensure that comprehensive information systems are available in all areas which will support operational requirements and provide comprehensive management information at local and national level.