Tag: #hse

Healthtech company, Dedalus to create 100 jobs in Ireland

Dedalus, Europe’s leading healthcare software provider, has announced it will create 100 new high-value jobs in Ireland over the next four years as part of a €10 million expansion of its Irish operations. The investment, supported by IDA Ireland, was announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD.

The expansion will bring Dedalus’s total Irish workforce to 150 people, scaling its presence across software engineering, product management, clinical informatics, data and analytics, cybersecurity, and implementation services. It will further embed Ireland at the centre of Dedalus’s efforts to deliver digital health solutions to providers across the country and Europe.

The company currently partners with the HSE and a range of hospitals across the country (see below). In 2021, Dedalus acquired the online healthcare appointment platform Swiftqueue which manages over four million appointments annually across Ireland’s healthcare system.

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said:
“Dedalus’s expansion in Ireland is a welcome boost to our digital health ambitions. These 100 new jobs will support the delivery of better, more connected healthcare services while reinforcing Ireland as a key player in the European health technology ecosystem.”

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said:
“Dedalus’s decision to expand its operations in Ireland and create 100 high-quality jobs is very welcome news. It is a strong endorsement of our talent base and our reputation as a hub for innovation in health technology. This investment will strengthen Ireland’s digital health capabilities and contribute to better healthcare outcomes for patients across the country. I thank Dedalus for their continued investment and wish the team every success as it grows and continues to deliver innovative solutions.”

Cathy McCartan, Executive Director, Dedalus Healthcare Ireland, said:
“Ireland is central to our mission to help healthcare systems deliver safer, more connected care. This investment allows us to expand our Irish team and capabilities—supporting hospitals and community services with interoperable electronic health records, diagnostics and imaging platforms, clinical decision support, and integration services. By helping unlock the full value of Ireland’s healthcare data, we can improve outcomes for patients, strengthen system-wide decision-making, and deliver real value to the country. We’re excited to grow here and to export Irish-led innovation across our wider European network.”

Michael Lohan, Chief Executive, IDA Ireland, said:
“Dedalus’s decision to expand in Ireland underscores IDA Ireland’s track record and reputation as a leading location for digital health and enterprise software. These highly skilled roles will contribute to innovation in patient care and strengthen Ireland’s position within a dynamic European health-tech sector. IDA Ireland is pleased to support this investment and looks forward to Dedalus’s continued success.”

The announcement comes as Dedalus continues to support some of the most significant digital health initiatives ever undertaken in Ireland. This year alone, the company has collaborated with healthcare partners on a range of major national initiatives, including:

  • Beaumont Hospital: go-live of new clinical applications with 3,000 hospital staff trained and using the system.
  • St James’s Hospital: modernisation of laboratory information management systems, processing over 12 million tests annually.
  • National Medicinal Product Catalogue: a central reference source for medicines and medical devices, promoting safer, more consistent prescribing, strengthening monitoring and planning, and enabling more joined-up care for patients.
  • National Terminology Service: the country’s first such service, now live, transforming how medical data is classified and harnessed across the health system.
  • National Data Dictionary: ensuring all healthcare professionals use the same definitions and language across care delivery.
  • Regional Contracts: supporting regionalised care with the deployment of digital systems across the Mid-West and West/North-West regions.

Dedalus is Europe’s only large-scale provider of electronic health records (EHRs), with applications used in the care of one in three European citizens. The company’s strong European roots offer Irish patients and policymakers the added assurance that data remains within Europe, fully compliant with EU data protection laws.

The company is actively shaping European digital health policy through its leadership in initiatives such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the European Electronic Health Record Exchange. Its AI tools are developed using European health data and are fully aligned with the EU AI Act, ensuring ethical, secure, and localised innovation.

Dedalus is also the only large-scale EHR vendor that is an active member of OpenEHR International, the global community and standards organisation that develops and maintains specifications for the design, exchange, and storage of health records.

BowelScreen and Viatel Technology Group partner on EU project to advance AI in cancer screening

BowelScreen, as part of Ireland’s HSE’s National Screening Service, is contributing to a major EU-funded research initiative exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and microbiome science could shape the future of colorectal cancer screening.

As part of the five-year Microb-AI-ome project, the national screening programme is supporting research efforts through collaboration with technology partner Viatel Technology Group.

The Microb-AI-ome project, funded by Horizon Europe, brings together institutions from five countries to investigate whether AI-driven analysis of gut microbiome data can improve the accuracy of bowel cancer screening. The research aims to reduce unnecessary colonoscopies, enhance early detection, and improve patient outcomes in the future.

Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna MD FRCPI, Clinical Director, BowelScreen Ireland said: “This research could pave the way for a more accurate and efficient screening process that supports early detection and prevention of bowel cancer and reduces unnecessary colonoscopies, ultimately improving outcomes for screening participants across Europe.”

For the AI to function effectively, it requires access to a broad and diverse dataset from volunteer screening participants. To ensure privacy and compliance, the Microb-AI-ome platform anonymises all sensitive information and retains it within secure cloud databases. To contribute to this international research effort, BowelScreen has facilitated the enrolment of patients by three research hospitals across Ireland, who will provide stool samples for microbiome analysis.

Viatel, leveraging Microsoft Azure technology, has developed the bespoke, cloud-based data-management solution to manage the Irish data repository.

Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna added: “The platform we have devised with Viatel will allow us to analyse a huge volume of metadata generated from participants’ stool samples to make it interpretable as a signal to say the person is at risk, or is not at risk.”


James Finglas, Managing Director of Viatel Digital Services said: “This is game-changing for the potential use of AI in population-based cancer screening. It analyses millions of data points per patient to identify an individual’s risk of pre-cancer changes or bowel cancer. Consequently, this technology may identify those who need a colonoscopy, creating positive outcomes for patients.”

Security and compliance were paramount in the platform’s development. Fully compliant with Irish legislation and GDPR standards, the system ensures the highest levels of patient confidentiality and data protection.

“Viatel has the experience and expertise to develop what we need. It was really beneficial to have that collaboration between Microsoft and Viatel to be able to generate this platform for us,” Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna said. 

This initiative highlights the growing role of the AI sector in healthcare innovation, and underscores the importance of strategic AI roadmaps in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

“This is a tremendous example of how AI can be adopted in a real and meaningful way. A lot of people are talking about AI right now, but we’re immensely proud to be effecting change in our work to get the most out of Microsoft’s AI solutions,” Finglas concluded.

HSE launches HSE Health App

The Department of Health and HSE have just launched the first version of the HSE Health App. It is one of the first initiatives delivered as part of Digital for Care, Ireland’s health and social care digital framework. Anyone aged 16 and over can download the app for free from Google Play or the App Store. However first phase functionality will be most useful for expectant mothers. 

This first phase functionality allows people to carry a digital list of self-declared medications and see a list of medicines received through the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card Scheme. It allows them to store their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), medical card, Long-term Illness card (LTI), Drugs Payment Scheme card (DPS) and GP Visit card. It provides access to flu and COVID-19 vaccination records and allows the user to easily find information about HSE services, such as EDs and Injury Units. It further allows those involved to view maternity service appointments (for expectant mothers).

According to HSE CEO, Bernard Gloster, there has been “much progress made in modernising the data capabilities and digital technologies of our health service in recent years. The launch of the first version of the new HSE Health App represents the next step forward in our digital transformation journey, as we seek to harness the power of data and innovation to help improve access to care for patients and enhance efficiencies across services.

“Through utilisation and ongoing development of digital tools, such as the new HSE Health App, we see a future where our patients and the people who care for them are empowered and better informed about their care. I will continue to ensure that we prioritise providing increased access for patients to their data allowing them to interact with our health services to improve their experiences.”

Damien McCallion, HSE Chief Technology and Transformation Officer added that “anyone who wishes to, can use the first version of the HSE Health App. This is just the beginning – the app is an evolving programme of work, with new services and features planned each year, including expanding the appointment functionality for all public hospital appointments. This is a challenging undertaking but a key priority to deliver for everyone under our care.The app is one aspect of the digitisation of the health service and a major priority as we face new challenges and ensure we can provide the health service the country needs and deserves.” 

The app development team has consulted with a number of organisations representing disabled people and worked with a Patient Advisory Group to understand the needs of a wide range of individuals. This has ensured their needs are heard and they are involved in the design process. The app has also been tested with users who rely on assistive technology, and audited to ensure it reaches HSE and European standards for accessibility. Work is ongoing with users of the app to identify and implement improvements so new features and functionality can be added.

Future app features will be guided by ongoing research and engagement with patients, staff, and the public. For now, the HSE Health App is available in English and Irish – other languages are being explored for future versions. 

A verified MyGovID is needed to access personal health information. If the user does not have a verified MyGovID, they will still be able to use the app to find information about health conditions and HSE services.

For more information see hse.ie/health-app   

Irish Consumers Face Tough Challenges in Dealing with the Aftermath of Dark Web Monitoring Scams

After a cyberattack on the Irish Health Service, Irish consumers are being affected by dark web monitoring. The health service was targeted by ransomware, which resulted in the theft of personal data from over half a million patients.

In response, the government has announced that it will be increasing its use of dark web monitoring to prevent future attacks. This decision has raised concerns among consumers about their privacy and data security.

 It is becoming more apparent that our data is being monitored and collected by unauthorised third parties without our consent or knowledge. This is a huge violation of our privacy, and we need to take action to protect our rights!

How Irish Consumers Are Affected By Dark Web Monitoring

According to a report by businessnews.ie, a well-known Irish drug lord is selling fake Covid vaccination certificates on the dark web to people who want to travel abroad but refuse to be vaccinated.

The drug lord sells the fake document for as much as €350 each. This is just one example of how Irish consumers are being affected by dark web monitoring.

The government has also announced that it will be using dark web monitoring to track down people who have illegally downloaded copyrighted material. This could result in fines or even jail time for those caught.

With the increased use of monitoring the dark web, there is a risk that more personal data will be collected without people’s consent or knowledge. This could lead to identity theft, fraud, or other crimes.

We should only use trusted websites and services, and we should be careful about the information we share online. We also need to be aware of the signs of identity theft and fraud to report it if it happens to us.

What Are The Aftermaths Of Cyber Attacks On Irish Health Service?

A report by Cyberlaw revealed that at least three-quarters of the HSE’s IT servers had been decrypted, and 70% of computing devices had been reintroduced to service. On the other hand, the HSE systems are expected to take up to six months to recover fully.

During the crisis, HSE personnel had to rely on paper records and could not access email; nevertheless, hospitals’ emergency services remained operational, the countrywide Covid-19 vaccination program was not disrupted, and testing continued to run smoothly.

Patients’ and staff’s personal and medical information was collected, with a minor amount of data (including private material on 520 individuals) being made public on the dark web.

The hackers had supplied the HSE with a decryption key that would enable them to restore their IT systems and files encrypted and locked by the attackers. The HSE announced that it would create a cyber security system to monitor its networks and go through extensive procurement procedures in response to the event.

In response to the assault, the government has announced that it will be increasing its use of dark web monitoring. This decision has generated worries among customers about their privacy and data security. The government has also promised new legislation that would make it easier to prosecute cybercriminals.

Conclusion

The cyberattack on the Irish Health Service has had some consequences for patients and staff. The incident has affected numerous Irish hospitals, and many outpatient clinics and healthcare services have been canceled because the HSE’s national and local networks have been nearly totally shut down.

As a response, the government declared its intention to be more vigilant with its utilisatsion of monitoring the dark web to protect vulnerable consumers from becoming cyberattack victims. This will likely affect how Irish consumers use the internet and their privacy.

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Dell Technologies joins forces with Ireland’s Health Service Executive to launch ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’

Dell Technologies announced today that it has teamed up with the HSE to launch ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’, a new educational programme that will provide healthcare professionals in Ireland with the tools and knowledge to apply new technologies within healthcare settings.

Developed in partnership with the HSE, the free online course offers healthcare workers and leaders across the country the opportunity to develop highly sought-after skills required to accelerate the digital transformation of Ireland’s healthcare system.

The six-month programme is designed to help healthcare staff across the HSE and its partner ecosystem to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by connected health, emerging technologies and personalised health solutions while ensuring the protection of patient data. Participants will gain insights into next generation diagnostics, the healthcare digital workplace of the future and the transformation of primary care management.

Included among the subject experts due to speak as part of the programme are James Norman, Healthcare CIO at Dell Technologies; Ryan Heynes, Healthcare leader for Dell Technologies Ireland; Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE; and Neil O’Hare, CIO and Professor of Health Informatics at Children’s Health Ireland.

Martin Curley, Director of Digital Transformation and Innovation at the HSE, said: “From our doctors and nurses to those innovating behind the scenes, the ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ course will prove invaluable to all those involved in providing healthcare services in Ireland.

“Technology has become an important tool in the fight against COVID-19 and a driver in the broader modernization of our healthcare system through Sláintecare. We’ve seen the reduction in barriers to digital innovation over the past 18 months and aligned with Slaintecare we will build on this using our Digital Innovation Strategy ‘Stay Left, Shift Left’ to achieve better outcomes for patients, reduce costs and improve quality. With the co-development of this programme with Dell Technologies, we can unleash a new era of healthcare transformation and help Ireland become a European digital health leader in the years ahead.”

Jason Ward, Vice President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies in Ireland, said: “We’re proud to join forces with the HSE to launch our ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ programme today. The past year and a half has proven to be a turning point for digital transformation in healthcare with frontline workers embracing technology at unprecedented speed as they bravely treated those impacted by the pandemic and dealt with the challenges of recent months. By equipping more people with digital skills, the healthcare system in Ireland has a unique opportunity to accelerate the deployment of technology to improve patient outcomes, protect patient data and support the vital work of all those providing vital healthcare services.”

The ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ programme gets underway on September 22nd with six virtual webinars taking place from September 2021 to February 2022. Learners will receive a Dell Technologies and HSE Digital Academy certified diploma upon completion of the course.

For any healthcare professional interested in applying for the free educational programme, visit:  https://hsedigitaltransformation.ie/digitalfutures2021.