Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when medical cards will be made accessible on laptop computers in order that doctors on call can have clear knowledge of a patient they are visiting or meeting in the on-call centre so that, first, they can give confidence to the patient and their family, and that they have the history of the patient available and their medication and, second, with that information they would be better able to treat the patient and prescribe for them thus avoiding at least some unnecessary hospital admissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17359/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Modern information and communications technology (ICT) has the potential to improve radically the range and type of health services, as well as the method of delivery, for professionals and the public. ICT systems can also play a significant role in facilitating integrated team working and collaboration across service delivery settings as well as providing rapid access to clinical and administrative records and to a range of knowledge to assist with decision-making.

A key aspect to achieving these advantages in the health service is the development of the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The National Health Information Strategy sets out the strategic direction for the EHR which will comprise a record of an individual's health from birth onwards. The strategy refers to such records being implemented on a phased basis and emphasises the potential benefits of this development across the health services in terms of patient safety and quality of care. As per the Information Strategy, matters relevant to the development of the EHR are being examined in the context of the proposed Health Information Bill which will provide the legislative underpinning necessary to establish a health system wide information governance framework.