The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is carrying out a National Engagement on Digital Health and Social Care in partnership with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The engagement is being conducted in the context of EU targets where the public will have electronic access to their medical records by 2030 and it will inform the forthcoming Health Information Bill. In addition, under the Sláintecare health reform programme, the Government has goals around using digital technologies in health and social care.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many accelerated changes in how people interact with health and social care services. People booked vaccination appointments online, recorded positive tests through the HSE website, or had their vaccination certificate on smart phones. Health professionals started consulting with the people they treat or care for on video or telephone calls rather than having in-person appointments. In addition, the cyber-attack in the HSE brought about potential changes in attitudes to eHealth information technologies.
It is important to seek the views of the public and professionals in health and social care on these changes. Therefore, the National Engagement on Digital Health and Social Care aims to understand the opinions and attitudes of the Irish public and professionals in relation to the digitalisation of health and social care.
National Engagement on Digital Health and Social Care
It is being undertaken by IPSOS MRBI on our behalf.
We commenced a telephone survey with members of the public on 19 June. If you are contacted by IPSOS MRBI, please take part. For more information, see the Public FAQs below. We will commence an online survey with professionals in health and social care in summer 2023.
The results of the national engagement will be used by:
- HIQA to identify what the public and professionals see as the purpose of digital health information and services as well as benefits and barriers to development
- HIQA to inform the development of recommendations on technical implementation
- the Department of Health and the HSE to help develop strategies, policies, and legislation in relation to digital health and social care.