David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

691. To ask the Minister for Health the status of unique patient identifiers; the number of identifiers in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4523/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Significant progress in the development of unique patient identifiers (individual health identifiers/ IHIs) was made during the pandemic. The HSE now has IHIs assigned for the majority of individuals with a PPSN. The challenge now is to deploy these IHIs across the multitude of patient record systems and databases across the wider health system and to assign an IHI to each patient record within those systems. During the pandemic, where it was essential for public health to track and trace individual cases of Covid, the IHI was allocated to records on the national Covid Track & Trace (CTT) system. The national Covid Vaccination System (Covax) also assigned unique IHIs to vaccination records and this was vital when trying to link records between dose 1, 2 and booster. The IHI also facilitated the generation of unique EU Digital Covid Certificates (DCCs) as required under EU regulation. The IHI was also useful in matching between databases for individuals who had a positive PCR test and subsequently required a recovery certificate. The process of self-registration for vaccination, collection of PPSN and verification of identity as people arrived at mass vaccination centres made it possible to allocate IHIs more easily with approximately 97% of those who provided a PPNS, matched directly to their IHI. Plans to deploy the IHI to GP practice systems and hospital patient administration systems were delayed slightly whilst Covid took precedence, but that work will recommence as the impacts of the pandemic reduce and the health system returns to business as usual.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

692. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the digital summary patient records system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.