General Practitioner Services

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Questions (517)

Colm Burke

Question:

517. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve ICT systems in general practice; if he will consider the implementation of such measures as summary care records, facilitated with a unique patient identifier, to enable an efficient, integrated healthcare system; his plans for investment in e-communication solutions between GP and hospital care to improve patient safety, optimise referral rates and overall, to support secondary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46995/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

GP ICT systems have undergone a series of significant developments in recent years. During the pandemic we saw the rapid deployment of a new facilities to support electronic transfer of prescriptions, access to teleconsultations, electronically refer patients for Covid testing, submit Covid vaccination data to facilitate national data collection and the issuance of EU Digital Covid Certificates in accordance with EU regulations. Whilst the impact of these initiatives was in some cases to push other planned work back, they were nonetheless important and necessary in terms of pandemic response. Under the 2019 Agreement with GPs, a commitment has been given to facilitate the introduction of summary and shared care records. Plans remain in place within the Department and HSE to pursue this and other ICT related initiatives.