Findings will inform recommendations made to Minister for Health
Health and social care professionals are invited to share their views on the future of digital health and social care in Ireland as part of a new survey which will be used to inform policy developments in the area.
HIQA, together with the Department of Health and the HSE, is carrying out the survey in light of an EU target for all members of the public to have electronic access to their medical records by 2030.
The survey is aimed at seven groups: doctors; dentists, registrants with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council; members of the Psychological Society of Ireland; nurses and midwives; pharmacists and registrants with CORU.
Rachel Flynn, Director of Health Information and Standards at HIQA,
“HIQA wants to hear the views of professionals on these wide-ranging changes,” Director of Health Information and Standards at HIQA, Rachel Flynn, said. “We want to give professionals a platform to voice their opinions and have a meaningful impact on future developments in digital health and social care in Ireland. Therefore, we are asking professionals to complete the online survey for the National Engagement on Digital Health and Social Care.”
HIQA wants to understand professionals’ opinions, attitudes, and comfort levels with digital health and social care, including digital services, and the public having digital access to their own health and social care information. In addition, HIQA wishes to know the benefits, challenges and gaps for both professionals in health and social care, and the people for whom they treat or care.
The survey was been launched last Monday (September 4) and will run for five weeks. It should take participants 15 minutes to complete.
As part of the engagement project, HIQA has already carried out a telephone survey with 2,000 members of the public. This is being followed by focus groups with a cross section of the public as well as advocacy and representative bodies. These will take place in autumn 2023.
Similar to the public survey, the professional survey will be followed by focus groups with a broad range of the health and social care workforce, including administration, managerial, and ICT staff.
The overall findings from the national engagement will be used to help develop recommendations for the Minister for Health on the future of digital health and social care in Ireland. In addition, the findings will be published on the HIQA website when the project is completed.
For more information and to complete the online survey, visit the HIQA website.