Mayo University Hospital (MUH) joins Irish National Orthopaedic Register

The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) is pleased to announce that Mayo University Hospital (MUH) has officially gone live with the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR), funded by the HSE and managed by NOCA on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Mayo becomes the 12th site to go live with the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR) and marks the completion of phase 1 of public implementation, strengthening the national ability to monitor outcomes, support quality improvement and maintain implant traceability. The next phase of INOR will focus on rollout to mixed trauma and elective sites, as well as further private sites.

HSE Technology and Transformation supported NOCA and clinical teams throughout the implementation of this important national patient safety and quality improvement initiative.

INOR facilitates the collection of information on hip and knee replacement procedures, implants used, patient outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures. It also provides an important mechanism for identifying and contacting patients in the event of an implant recall. The register now contains data on more than 43,000 hip and knee replacement procedures undertaken in Ireland between 2015 and 2024.

Professor John Quinlan, National Clinical Lead for the Irish National Orthopaedic Register and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: "Today marks an important milestone for orthopaedic surgery and patient safety in Ireland. With Mayo University Hospital joining the register, every public elective orthopaedic hospital in the country is now participating in INOR. National clinical audit and registries play a critical role in monitoring quality and safety, supporting continuous improvement and ensuring patients receive the highest standards of care. INOR enables us to monitor outcomes, benchmark performance, identify opportunities for improvement and, importantly, maintain a national record of orthopaedic implants that can support patients should an implant recall occur. I would like to thank the orthopaedic teams, audit coordinators, clinical leads and hospital management at Mayo University Hospital for their commitment and collaboration throughout the implementation process."

Catherine Donohoe, General Manager, Mayo University Hospital, said: "The successful implementation of INOR at Mayo University Hospital reflects the commitment of our orthopaedic, nursing, theatre and administrative teams to delivering high-quality care for patients. Participation in the register will provide our clinicians with access to valuable information about outcomes and activity, helping to inform service development and support continuous improvement. We are pleased to contribute to this important national initiative and to work alongside colleagues across the country to improve orthopaedic care."

Professor Paul O’Grady, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and INOR Clinical Lead, Mayo University Hospital, said: "Joint replacement surgery can have a profound impact on a patient's quality of life. Participation in INOR will help us better understand how our patients are doing after surgery and how their outcomes compare nationally. Access to this information supports clinical decision-making, research and quality improvement. It also ensures that patients treated in Mayo University Hospital contribute to a national picture of orthopaedic care that will benefit future patients."

The recent Irish National Orthopaedic Register National Report 2015–2024 reported on more than 43,000 hip and knee arthroplasty procedures and demonstrated excellent outcomes for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery in Ireland, including very low rates of surgical site infection, complications and mortality.

The successful implementation of the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR) at MUH was delivered through a collaborative effort between the hospital, the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), and members of the National Implementation Team. The project was supported by Pamela Hickey, Audit Programme Manager, Trauma/Surgery, NOCA, Daragh Browne, Assistant Audit Programme Manager, Trauma/Surgery, NOCA, Brid Moran, Information Manager, NOCA, Alan McDermott, IT Applications & Support Specialist, NOCA, Corinna Abbott, Senior Project Manager, Technology and Transformation and Klaire Trench-Morris, Acute Delivery Programme Manager for Critical Care, Technology and Transformation, alongside colleagues across the national orthopaedic and digital health programmes.

If you’d like to know more please contact the INOR team at NOCA

Email: inor@noca.ie