Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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760. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the new information technology strategy for the health system as a whole published in 2014 by eHealth Ireland; the progress made on its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46573/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government approved and published the eHealth strategyin 2013 for realising the potential of eHealth in the Irish health service. This strategy sets out a number of objectives and a road map for the delivery and implementation of eHealth for the benefit of patients. The Knowledge & Information strategy, published in 2014 by the Office of the Chief Information Officer in the HSE, builds upon the eHealth strategy and outlines how integrated information and enabling technology will support the delivery of innovative, safe and high quality patient care to meet the needs of our population across all patient pathways and care settings.

Significant progress has been made on both strategies since their publication. This includes the establishment of eHealth Ireland, the appointment of a Chief Information Officer for the HSE, the establishment of the eHealth Ireland Advisory Committee and the development of the Irish eHealth Ecosystem.

Progress has also been made in relation to the implementation of the Health Identifiers Act 2014, which provides for a system of unique identification for patients, professionals and providers, via an Individual Health Identifier (IHI). The Individual Health Identifier will enhance patient data security and confidentiality and support administrative efficiency. On 30 May 2017, a Commencement Order and Regulations under the Health Identifiers Act 2014 were signed, allowing for the implementation of the Individual Health Identifier.

The HSE have also developed a business case for the implementation of an electronic health care record (EHR) in Ireland. The business case sets out a number of investment scenarios including timescales for implementation and roll out. Progress has been achieved with the roll-out of the Maternity and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS), which is the design and implementation of an electronic health record for all women and babies in maternity services in Ireland, going live in Cork in December 2016 with Kerry following in March 2017. In both locations the new MN-CMS successfully replaced paper processes with efficient digital processes. Further implementations are planned for the Rotunda Hospital by year end and the National Maternity Hospital in early 2018.

eReferrals(National Electronic General GP Referrals), an initiative that has developed the infrastructure to electronically transmit referrals from GPs to Acute Hospitals, have now been rolled out to all six hospital groups.

Implementation of a new Financial Operating Model for the HSE is at an advanced stage and this will be underpinned by a single national technology platform which will be adopted by all health entities as it will provide the most cost effective and expedient approach to financial management.

The MedLIS project promotes patient safety and quality improvement of services being provided by Laboratory Services and is currently being closely monitored by the HSE project steering group and is anticipated to 'go-live' in St. James Hospital in Q2 2018.

My Department also participates in a number of international eHealth forums, including the EU eHealth Network, in the context of digital services in support of the Cross-Border Directive (Directive 2011/24/EU) on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare and is also aimed at furthering the eHealth agenda on issues such as interoperability and common standards for the exchange of information in support of patient care.

The delivery of digital health care services will require a robust legal framework to ensure confidentiality and security of patient data consistent with the new EU data protection regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation). The GDPR will have a significant effect on how and where data is gathered and the purpose for which it is used. My Department is currently examining the appropriate information framework that will provide the optimum environment to support future developments in eHealth. In this context, a public consultation is currently being carried out by my Department to seek views on the proposals to inform the drafting of a national health information policy in 2018.

Increases in capital spending and resources have been facilitated and the capacity and capability of HSE ICT to successfully undertake large scale ICT projects have been further developed, which will see continued progression on the area of ICT and eHealth.

Delivery of eHealth is also being examined in the context of the Sláintecare report, which advocates the “Continued strong support of the e-health strategy– particularly ensuring the necessary funding for timely roll-out of the EHR system”. The report is currently being reviewed by my Department in the context of its implementation and with a particular focus on further implementing the eHealth strategy and a National Electronic Health record.