Data and Information Sharing

The HSE’s Chief Data and Analytics Office (CDAO) is making a safe and secure system to share health information.

This means doctors, nurses, managers, patients, and HSE partners can all access the same data easily. The goal is to replace many small systems with one system that helps improve care, services, and public trust.

The work involved

The CDAO is leading projects to make health data easier to use and share across Ireland.

The work involves:

• bringing data teams together so they can work better.
• joining identity and data teams to connect people and services.
• making a National Data Plan to show how data should be used and kept safe.
• making sure data is clear, high quality, and works well with other systems.
• creating a National Data Dictionary, so everyone uses the same words.
• building a national list of health staff, services, and places, each with its own ID.
• getting ready to share data safely with other European countries.
• using AI and smart tools to save time and find better information

How these programmes are being developed

The CDAO works by building strong partnerships and following clear rules.
Teams have different skills, such as:

• technical know-how
• business skills
• clinical (medical) knowledge
• policy understanding

For example, the Health Identifier Services (HIDS) team has both business and technical staff working together under one leader.

This helps them link identity and data more easily.

The Data Specific Management Process (DSMP) team includes:

• data experts
• doctors and nurses
• organisations like HIQA, the Department of Health, the Health Research Board, and NOCA

They make sure data rules are practical and useful for real work.

A central team in the CDAO looks after data standards and language. They keep the National Data Dictionary up to date and make sure clinical words are used the same way everywhere.

The HSE also works with others, such as:

• government departments
• health technology groups
• doctors, nurses and other medical staff
• European partners

Benefits of improved data and information sharing includes:

• better, more accurate information
• easier access for patients
• fewer mistakes or repeated data
• smoother connections between systems
• more trust that data is safe and correct

Information sharing systems

The new healthcare information sharing systems include:

• National Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• National Shared Care Record (NSCR)
• National Laboratory Information System
• Community Connect
• National Medicinal Product Catalogue (NMPC)