The accuracy and availability of national hospital waiting list data is at risk because of outdated patient administration systems in some hospitals, the Medical Independent (MI) has learned.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) raised concern that a system failure in hospitals where patient administration systems were reaching end-of-life could result in affected hospitals being unable to send any waiting list information to the NTPF.
The matter was raised in September 2024 at meetings of the NTPF audit and risk committee and the board. The minutes were released to MI through Freedom of Information law.
The NTPF has included the issue on its risk register. The Fund is responsible for collating, validating, and publishing public hospital waiting lists.
In a discussion on the risk register, the audit and risk committee heard that “legacy patient administration systems in some hospitals” were reaching end-of-life.
“This could result in unavailable or inaccurate national waiting list data from these hospitals. The CEO [Ms Fiona Brady] confirmed that the Department and HSE are aware of potential issues and she will keep them informed of the NTPF’s concerns in relation to data accuracy and availability from these hospitals,” the minutes stated.
Minutes from the NTPF board meeting, which also took place in September 2024, referred to the “increasing risk” of some hospitals either being unable to supply data on waiting lists or of incorrect data being supplied.
“The ICT Director has been in contact with each of the hospitals seeking updates on the projects to replace or update the affected systems,” the minutes read.
An NTPF spokesperson told MI: “It was noted [at the meetings] that the patient administration systems of certain hospitals are reaching end-of-life, which could potentially result in these hospitals not being in a position to return patient waiting list information to the NTPF in the scenario of a system failure occurring.”
“The NTPF is aware that a number of hospitals are currently replacing and migrating to new information systems. We understand measures are in place to mitigate risk while these projects are underway and remain in contact with these hospitals and the HSE Office of the Chief Information Officer on the matter.”
A HSE spokesperson said that several patient administration systems were at end-of-life, but insisted that there was no risk to waiting list data.
“These are being replaced as either standalone solutions or as part of the electronic healthcare record project. There is no material risk to the waiting list data; however, if substantial changes were made to the waiting list data requirements there would be challenges,” said the spokesperson.
“The HSE has a national patient administration system which is deployed to the majority of HSE statutory hospitals and a number of the voluntary hospitals. The HSE provides accurate data to the NTPF.”
The NTPF’s waiting list data is used in policy and strategy planning and provides an overview of the level of demand on healthcare services and how efficiently demand is being met.
At the end of January, almost 570,000 adults and children were awaiting a hospital appointment nationally, according to the NTPF.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.