Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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705. To ask the Minister for Health if a method of hospital to general practitioner communication (details supplied) will be reviewed; if the communication model will be introduced nationwide across the healthcare sector in view of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23351/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Medications reconciliation at point of hospital admission and discharge, is critical for the safe care of patients. The heath service is working to improve how information on medications is communicated safely as patient transition between care settings. In the case of discharge letters, provision of information as to why a patients medications were altered (meds stopped, started or dosage changed), can be as important as the prescription itself as it enables GPs and those in the community responsible for the care of patients to understand why changes were made since admission.

Several initiatives are being pursued in this area and eHealth initiatives such as electronic prescribing and electronic referrals and discharge, will bring more consistency to how this is done in the future and a national approach will ensure standards are applied. This will all lead to safer, better care for patients in the future.