Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the report on mortality rates at acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13682/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The CMO's Office of my Department has been working on a report entitled 'Health Care Quality Indicators in the Irish Health System: Examining the Potential of Hospital Discharge Data'. This report includes the measure of recorded 30 day in-hospital mortality rates following heart attack. This work demonstrates the value of using the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) system to derive knowledge and understanding of health care quality. However, it has also uncovered variation in the accuracy of data as reported through the HIPE system. Some individual hospitals have attributed this variation to inaccuracies in the medical chart and the subsequent coding of information inputted by individual hospitals to the HIPE system. The data is collected and inputted by the hospitals themselves and, therefore, they are responsible for the quality of the inputted information. Every public hospital in the country has been written to in order that they can ensure that the information they record and report for 2011 and 2012 is accurate. Following a period of consultation and further analysis, the report entitled 'Health Care Quality Indicators in the Irish Health System: Examining the Potential of Hospital Discharge Data' is currently being finalised with a view to publication in the near future.