The Health Information and Quality Authority has today launched a five week public consultation on new Draft Information Management Standards for National Health and Social Care Data Collections.

These draft standards which focus on the information governance practices and the management of national health and social care data collections in Ireland, will apply to all health and social care data collections that are established and maintained on a national basis, such as the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) and the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database (NPSDD), managed by the Health Research Board.

Developing standards for national health and social care data collections will, in the long-term, provide key benefits to health and social care service users, health and social care professionals, organisations and policy makers. The standards encourage improved efficiency and increased usability and usefulness of data. They support improved access to data, reduced duplication and support the drive for higher quality data throughout national health and social care data collections.

HIQA’s Acting Director of Health Information Dr Kevin O’Carroll said: “Accurate, relevant and timely data is essential in order to improve health and social care by informing decision-making, monitoring diseases, planning services, informing policy making, conducting high quality research, and planning for future health and social care needs, both at national and local levels”.

“A considerable amount of data is collected about health and social care services in Ireland. However, as in many other countries, our national health and social care data collections have evolved over time in a largely uncoordinated fashion. Although there are examples of very good practice, in some cases there is a lack of coordination and interoperability” Dr O’Carroll said.

“Compliance with these standards will ultimately improve patient safety and help to instil confidence in patients, clinicians and all other stakeholders that healthcare decisions are made based on high quality information.” Dr O’Carroll said.

HIQA is asking the public to give feedback on these draft Standards.

ENDS