Legacy issues with Ireland’s health information systems were exposed most obviously with the 2021 cyberattack, but Addie says that the failure to bring our health IT infrastructure up to speed means the health service is stuck on the back foot. For example, these inefficiencies mean “big data” cannot be used to help with our healthcare decision-making.
People should have access to their own medical data, enabling them to become more involved in the management of their own health Adopting innovation at a faster pace is ultimately what is required to meet the demands of our ageing population. While the pandemic did allow some key initiatives to finally gain momentum, this enthusiasm for innovation must now be maintained or even increased, Addie says.
This will require not only investment, but significant leadership. Addie believes the Irish health service must adopt an “innovation mindset”.