Health

HSE to start trialling new health app by next month

App will not cover voluntary hospitals due to challenges around data sharing, board members told

The app provides patients with information under 'your health identity', 'access to your health data' and 'access to personalised health services'. Photograph: iStock

Paul Cullen
Tue May 7 2024 - 06:00

A new health phone app for patients is expected to be launched by the Health Service Executive this year, but it will not cover voluntary hospitals.

The app, which is currently being tested, can be used for hospital appointments, prescriptions and other health services as well as storing documents.

However, voluntary hospitals, which count for about a third of the public system, are not involved at this stage of the app’s development, HSE board members have been told. They expressed concern at this fact, while acknowledging the positive feedback around the project.

The issue is due to challenges around data sharing, “but this should be addressed over the next few years,” a meeting of the HSE’s technology and transformation committee heard last January.

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The app, development of which builds on skills and lessons learned from the Covid-19 tracker app, provides patients with information under “your health identity”, “access to your health data” and “access to personalised health services”.

Patients representatives are involved in the steering group for the app, interim HSE chief technology and transformation officer John Ward said.

The app will start with a function to allow people store their medical card or European Health Insurance Card details, according to the HSE. The first version will also include public hospital appointments for maternity services, communications about vaccinations, signposting to services and self-care supports, as well as enabling patients to carry a list of their medications.

“The intention is that the patient app will continuously evolve and will be a key patient engagement platform with the health services enabling greater efficiency and access to care,” HSE board members were told in February.

A pilot is due to begin before the end of June to test the app with patients. Feedback from this will be used to refine its functionality before it is made more widely available.

A HSE spokesman said it was aiming to make the first version of the app available to the public “at the end of this year” with regular updates planned thereafter.

“The HSE is working with colleagues across the health service, including public and voluntary hospitals, to explore how to deliver the best experience to patients and provide access to their appointment information.”

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen is a former heath editor of The Irish Times.

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