Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 March 2015
208. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in view of the publication of the countywide hospitalisation rates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and diabetes if he will provide the countywide mortality rates for acute myocardial infarction, haemorrhagic stroke, and ischaemic stroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10930/15]
View answerThe first annual report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS) was published on 5 March 2015.
This is the first time that the Department of Health has published a report that focuses solely on the quality and safety of health services. The selection, analysis and presentation of the indicators in the report used readily available information and were approved by the NHQRS governance committee.
The report, using Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) data, presented at national and hospital level in-hospital mortality rates following admission with an acute myocardial infarction or haemorrhagic or ischaemic stroke. This analysis allows for comparison with other countries and for comparison of individual hospitals. The analysis showed at national level in-hospital mortality following admission with a heart attack or an ischaemic stroke decreased between 2004 and 2013. It also showed a variation for in-hospital mortalities between individual hospitals that requires further exploration and explanation to support improvements in the quality of health services.
The Central Statistics Office is responsible for compiling mortality rates including at county level for the conditions enquired about.
For future NHQRS annual reports, the range of indicators presented will continue to evolve to reflect the breadth of health services provided in Ireland.
