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Advancing Data for Care: October 2025 Webinar - Highlights

Following January’s successful Data for Care event, the October 2025 webinar brought together colleagues from the HSE, HIQA and the Department of Health to share the latest developments in health data, standards, and interoperability across Ireland’s health system.

Hosted by Theresa Barry, the session reflected how data quality, interoperability, and governance underpin Ireland’s Digital for Care ambitions creating the foundations for better care, safer data use, and a connected health system.

Speakers included Lisa Farrelly (HSE Technology and Transformation Health Identifiers Service), Suzanne Barror (HIQA), and Emer Doyle (Department of Health), each outlining how their work supports the move toward a more data-driven, patient-centred healthcare system.

Setting the Scene: Progress Since January

Opening the session, Theresa Barry highlighted how interest in data and standards continues to grow across the health service, with over 490 participants joining the July session and strong engagement across social media.

She outlined strategic updates from the Chief Data and Analytics Office (CDAO), including:

  • The HSE Data Strategy now at an advanced stage and progressing to SMT review.
  • Establishment of a Technology and Transformation Innovation Hub in Dublin’s South Quarter, due to open before the end of the year.
  • The AI for Care Strategy, preparing for launch, with a new AI training course available on HSELand.

These developments, Barry noted, reflect the wider shift toward a data-driven health service — one where interoperability, data standards and governance are embedded across every level of care delivery.

Data Dictionary and Central Terminology Server: Building the Foundations for Interoperability

Theresa Barry then provided an update on the Data Dictionary and Central Terminology Server, two major enablers of interoperability.

She explained how the new 'Central Terminology Server' will allow consistent use of clinical terminology across the HSE supporting data exchange between systems and reducing duplication. By managing national terminologies such as SNOMED CT through a central API, clinicians and digital systems alike will have access to up-to-date, standardised health terms.

This approach, she emphasised, directly supports the Digital for Care principle that Electronic Health Records (EHRs) while significant investments must be underpinned by clear interoperability and data standards.

The HSE Data Dictionary, now also procured, will provide a single, web-based platform for managing how data is defined, structured, and exchanged across systems. Together, these tools will ensure that future digital systems “speak the same language” improving data quality, patient safety, and care coordination nationwide.

Health Identifiers and the Connected Care Ecosystem

Lisa Farrelly, from the HSE Technology and Transformation Health Identifiers Service, presented an overview of ongoing work to integrate the PPSN and Individual Health Identifier (IHI) across health systems in order to technically enable connected health records.

She described how the IHI now underpins the interoperability of many of Ireland’s Digital for Care programmes, including:

  • The HSE Health App, where each user’s IHI securely connects vaccination, prescription, and appointment data.
  • The National Shared Care Record, Community Connect, E-Prescribing, and future EHR systems.

IHI integration is already live across hospitals, GP practices, the PCRS, Healthlink, national immunisation systems and many other key national systems. Progress is also advancing with voluntary hospitals and community pharmacies both key priorities for 2026.

Lisa also presented insights into IHI match rates across systems, with hospitals averaging 83% and GP systems over 90%, while emphasising the importance of consistent data entry standards. A new HSELand module is in development to support staff in achieving accurate data capture across nine key demographic fields.

Another significant update is the HIDS collaboration with the General Register Office (GRO) to integrate certified date-of-death data into IHI records. The availability of trusted date of death information will help ensure that sensitive or inappropriate communications are avoided, while also improving the accuracy of appointment scheduling, reporting, and resource allocation.

Secondary Use of Data and the European Health Data Space

Suzanne Barror from HIQA provided a brief overview of the  European Health Data Space (EHDS),the EU-wide initiative enabling safe access and re-use of health data for both care delivery and research.

She explained how the HealthData@IE project, led by the Department of Health in collaboration with HIQA, the HRB, the HSE and other key stakeholders, is supporting the establishment of Health Data Access Body services in Ireland through the advancement of key areas of work including:

  • A National Health Dataset Catalogue (nHDsC), providing a standardised, searchable platform describing available Irish health datasets for secondary use.
  • A Data Access Management System and Secure Processing Environment, ensuring data is accessed and used appropriately and securely.
  • A Data Quality Enhancement Programme, helping data holders meet their obligations under the EHDS Regulation.

HIQA’s work on the nHDsC will align closely with the HSE’s Data Dictionary, ensuring consistent terminology and metadata across both primary and secondary data use. The National Catalogue, now in prototype stage, is expected to be operational by 2027 positioning Ireland as an active contributor to the European Health Data Space.

Legislative Progress: Health Information Bill and EHDS Implementation

Emer Doyle from the Department of Health provided an update on the legislative and governance framework supporting Ireland’s digital health transformation.

She outlined progress on the Health Information Bill, which is currently advancing through the Oireachtas and expected to be enacted shortly. The Bill provides the legal foundation for the creation and management of Electronic Health Records and introduces:

  • A statutory duty to share personal health data across the healthcare sector, public, private and voluntary.
  • Legal clarity around patient rights and data access, ensuring individuals can view and control their health data.
  • Provisions to underpin the use of PPSN and strengthen the legal basis for the HSE to create, update, and manage EHRs.

The Bill also includes measures for secondary data use in the public interest and paves the way for alignment with the EU’s EHDS regulation, due for full implementation by 2031.

Looking Ahead

Closing the session, Theresa Barry noted the progress made across each of these areas from data standards and identifiers to European collaboration and legislative reform as essential pillars of the Digital for Care framework.

“These initiatives are not isolated projects,” she said. “They are part of a shared journey toward a modern, data-driven health service one where safe, standardised information improves care for patients and supports better decisions across the system.”

The Data for Care webinars will continue in 2026, providing regular updates and engagement opportunities as Ireland moves closer to realising its vision of connected, data-enabled care for all.

All 'Data for Care' webinars can be viewed here 

If you attended live webinar, please complete this short survey https://www.ehealthireland.ie/forms/data-for-care-webinar-survey/ your feedback will help shape the 2026 webinar series.

For more information please visit www.eHealthIreland.ie or email dataandinformationstandards@hse.ie