Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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332. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding electronic health records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11134/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The national eHealth Strategy has many elements with the development and integration of national ICT systems supporting health and social care at its centre.  The Electronic Health Record (E.H.R.), along with the development of the Individual Health Identifier (I.H.I) are essential elements to ensure that patient data can be securely connected and shared between the various elements of our health services and providing safer, better care to patients.

The scale of the task to implement a national E.H.R. programme is considerable with a ten year programme of work to support it. Support for eHealth and the E.H.R. programme is a key recommendation in the SláinteCare Report which advocated “continued strong support of the e-health strategy - particularly ensuring the necessary funding for timely roll-out of the EHR system".  eHealth deployment also forms part of the recently published National Development Plan where Project Ireland 2040 states that "The National Development Plan will support the provision of digital health services, including the development of electronic health records in many health care settings such as the New Children’s Hospital over the 10-year implementation timescale and reflects what was envisaged in the eHealth strategy for Ireland." Details of the eHealth elements of the implementation plan for Sláintecare will be announced shortly.

Significant progress is being made with the implementation of the Health Identifiers Act 2014, which provides for a system of unique identification for patients, professionals and providers. On 30 May 2017, a Commencement Order and Regulations under the Health Identifiers Act 2014 were signed, allowing for the implementation of the I.H.I. for patients. The technical implementation project of the IHI has begun with a roll-out for the integration of the identifier into various ICT systems nationally on a phased basis across health services.

In addition to the I.H.I., other national ICT systems are being introduced or standardised.  For example, the Maternal and New-born system (MN-CMS) which is effectively our first national electronic patient record, has been phased-in to the Maternity Units in Kerry, Cork University Hospital, the Rotunda and the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin. It continues to be further deployed nationally on a phased basis. Other systems such as the national laboratory system (MedLIS), the national oncology management system (MOCIS) and other systems such as eReferrals are being implemented.

The HSE are currently progressing with a health portal initiative which will provide patients with access to their information. The initial focus of the health portal will be on maternity service users and will allow patients access to medical reports and upcoming appointments. The range of services available will expand as the National E.H.R. Programme progresses.

Ensuring patients and health professionals have access to the right information, in the right place, at the right time, supports more effective decision-making on the part of clinicians, improves administrative efficiency and can also empower patients to be more informed and involved in their own care or treatment. However, there must be a balance between using and sharing personal health information appropriately while continuing to protect rights to privacy and confidentiality. Patients must be assured at all times that their personal health information is handled legally, securely, efficiently and effectively in order to deliver the best possible care.  The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, which comes into effect in all member states in May, involves a single set of data protection and privacy rules and establishes a legal basis for the processing of personal data based on clear and uniform principles. The GDPR will replace the current data protection rules on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of their personal data.

Details of the national eHealth programme of work are available at www.ehealthireland.ie.