asked the Minister for Health if the statistics relating to the hospital in-patient inquiry scheme being run by the ERSI will be linked to other data bases in the country; and the measures which will be taken to preserve confidentiality.
Written Answers. - In-Patient Enquiry Scheme.
111.
There are no specific plans to link information from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) to other data bases throughout the country. It is the intention, however, to make appropriate HIPE data available to hospitals and researchers to ensure that all use is made of the information.
All the measures used by the Health Research Board in protecting the confidentiality of the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry have been continued on the transfer of their administration to the Economic and Social Research Institute. I am satisfied that these are effective. I would emphasise that the identity of patients is not collected as part of the inquiry.