HSE national EHR implementation & procurement — interoperability, cloud/vendor governance & cyber risks
Key Questions
What is the current status of Ireland's national EHR rollout?
Only five of 47 public hospitals have gone live with electronic health records, with original timelines missed. Progress is occurring through the HSE Health App, National Shared Care Record, and regional deployments, supported by upcoming eTenders for Acute/Community services targeting Dublin/North East by 2029.
When is government approval expected for the One Health Record tender?
Government approval for the HSE eTenders Acute/Community One Health Record procurement is scheduled for 6 February 2026. This follows a slow start but aligns with broader Sláintecare digital health goals.
What key challenges have been highlighted for the HSE EHR implementation?
Grant Thornton emphasizes the human change component and AI governance as critical success factors. Ireland lags EU peers due to missed timelines, limited hospital deployments, and the need for stronger interoperability and vendor oversight.
Why are cyber risks and vendor governance important in EHR procurement?
Recent European hospital incidents show EHR/EPR attacks shifting from data theft to operational disruption, with 72-hour downtime risks. Procurement must prioritize vendor KPIs, clinical continuity cybersecurity, and NIS2 accountability to mitigate these threats.
How does the HSE Health App support the national EHR strategy?
The HSE Health App contributes to progress alongside the National Shared Care Record and regional deployments despite the slow overall rollout. It forms part of the eHealth Ireland ecosystem advancing Sláintecare objectives.
HSE eTenders Acute/Community for One Health Record (Dublin/NE 2029); 6 Feb 2026 Government approval. Slow start but progress via HSE Health App, National Shared Care Record and regional deployments. Only 5 of 47 hospitals live; original timelines missed. Grant Thornton stresses human change component and AI governance as critical. Cyber/EHR risks and vendor KPIs key for procurement.