asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the level of computerisation in the health services; if he has any plans to extend this; and, if so, the areas involved.
Written Answers. - Health Services Computerisation.
192.
Under policies developed in 1981-82 standard computerised systems have been implemented in many health agencies as follows:
(a) Financial System
General ledger systems have been installed in the Eastern, South-Eastern and North-Eastern Health Boards and in Beaumont and Crumlin Hospitals. The system is at present being installed in the Southern Health Board.
Accounts payable systems have been installed in the Eastern and North-Eastern Health Boards as well as in Beaumont and Crumlin Hospitals.
Stores systems have been installed in a number of locations in the Eastern Health Board and in Crumlin Hospital.
(b) Hospital Patient Administration System
Systems have been installed in Crumlin, Cork Regional and Tralee General Hospitals and is in course of installation at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
Other hospital systems have been implemented at the Mater, St. Vincent's, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and Wexford and Ardkeen Hospitals.
(c) Community Care System
A major system is being developed in the North-Western Health Board and is approximately 75 per cent complete. Modules of the system, relating to medical cards, have been installed in the Eastern Health Board.
(d) Minor Systems
Many health agencies including mental handicap organisations have implemented smaller systems for stores, payroll etc.
I have recently had a review carried out of the policies and systems implementation since 1982 to date and as a result of this review I have agreed that future policies will not be based on standardised systems but that health agencies should evaluate and select the most suitable hardware and software to meet their requirements, according to procedures and standards laid down by my Department and following the drawing up of an information technology (IT) plan for each health agency. Priority will be given to the major health agencies, health boards and larger hospitals, but some provision will be made for the smaller agencies. The priority applications will continue to be hospital information systems, financial systems and the community care area.
It has also been agreed that, from 1989 onwards, there will be a special subhead in my Department's Vote for computerisation of health boards, hospitals and other health facilities. This will facilitate the drawing up of an agreed planned implementation process over a period of time. It will also ensure that computerisation will not be in competition with other projects for capital funding or other resources.