The Health Research Board (HRB) is a state agency that collects national health information systems to inform policy and service planning. It manages 5 databases covering disabilities, drug/alcohol misuse, and mental health. These databases contain de-identified individual-level records totaling over 100,000. The HRB uses the anonymous data to publish reports on the national, regional, and local levels to support health policy, service delivery, and research.

1. Local data and public health research
Anne Marie Carew
National Health Information Systems

2. Health Research Board
• State agency under Department of Health.
– Budget €40m+, funding portfolio €100m+, staff of 60
• Providing evidence for policy
– Public Health Alcohol Bill, Food Pyramid, Fluoridation
• Information for service planning
– Disability, drug use, mental health
• Funding health research
– Clinical, Population Health, Health Services Research
– Infrastructure, capacity building, specific projects.
internal
external

3. National Health Information Systems
• HRB has been in the business of collecting health
information since the 1960’s
• Currently five national systems in the areas of disability,
drugs and alcohol and mental health

4. National Health Information Systems
• Service planning database for intellectual disabilityNIDD
Established 1995
c.27,000 records
• Service planning database for physical and sensory disabilityNPSDD
Established 2002
c.25,000 records
• Epidemiological database recording treated drug and alcohol
misuse
NDTRS
Established 1990
c.20,000 cases p.a
• Database recording admisssions to and discharges from
psychiatric hospitals
NPIRS
Established 1963
c. 18,000 admissions & 18,000 discharges
• Census of drug and alcohol related deathsNDRDI
Established 2005
c. 1,400 p.a

5. National Health Information Systems
• Service planning database for intellectual disabilityNIDD
Established 1995
c.27,000 records
• Service planning database for physical and sensory disabilityNPSDD
Established 2002
c.25,000 records
• Epidemiological database recording treated drug and alcohol
misuse
NDTRS
Established 1990
c.20,000 cases p.a
• Database recording admisssions to and discharges from
psychiatric hospitals
NPIRS
Established 1963
c. 18,000 admissions & 18,000 discharges
• Census of drug and alcohol related deathsNDRDI
Established 2005
c. 1,400 p.a

6. National Health Information Systems
• Service planning database for intellectual disabilityNIDD
Established 1995
c.27,000 records
• Service planning database for physical and sensory disabilityNPSDD
Established 2002
c.25,000 records
• Epidemiological database recording treated drug and alcohol
misuse
NDTRS
Established 1990
c.20,000 cases p.a
• Database recording admisssions to and discharges from
psychiatric hospitals
NPIRS
Established 1963
c. 18,000 admissions & 18,000 discharges
• Census of drug and alcohol related deathsNDRDI
Established 2005
c. 1,400 p.a

7. National Health Information Systems
• Service planning database for intellectual disabilityNIDD
Established 1995
c.27,000 records
• Service planning database for physical and sensory disabilityNPSDD
Established 2002
c.25,000 records
• Epidemiological database recording treated drug and alcohol
misuse
NDTRS
Established 1990
c.20,000 cases p.a
• Database recording admisssions to and discharges from
psychiatric hospitals
NPIRS
Established 1963
c. 18,000 admissions & 18,000 discharges
• Census of drug and alcohol related deathsNDRDI
Established 2005
c. 1,400 p.a

8. National Health Information Systems
• Service planning database for intellectual disabilityNIDD
Established 1995
c.27,000 records
• Service planning database for physical and sensory disabilityNPSDD
Established 2002
c.25,000 records
• Epidemiological database recording treated drug and alcohol
misuse
NDTRS
Established 1990
c.20,000 cases p.a
• Database recording admisssions to and discharges from
psychiatric hospitals
NPIRS
Established 1963
c. 18,000 admissions & 18,000 discharges
• Census of drug and alcohol related deathsNDRDI
Established 2005
c. 1,400 p.a

9. How is the information used?
• National level/web updates published annually for Department of
Health/HSE
• European level for EMCDDA
• International level for UNCRC, UNODC, World Drugs Report, WHO
• Regional PI reports for HSE to monitor targets
• Interactive data available on drug treatment and on mental health
(CSO)
• Peer review publications
• Services
• Requests for data from policy makers, consultants, nursing staff,
service planners, hospital and service personnel, local health
managers, students, academic staff, media etc.

10. Relevance to policy and practice
• NIDD/NPSDD
– Inform EU feasibility study on European Register for children with Cerebral Palsy (2011)
– Data used in value for money and policy review of disability services, 2012.
– Database used as sampling frame for the TILDA Intellectual Disability Study (ongoing).
– Contribution of data on assistive technology and technical aids to HSE’s Health Atlas
– Data on wheelchair use for the Interdepartmental Group reviewing Mobility Allowance, 2013.
• NDTRS
– Data used to inform set up of Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force areas.
– Informing the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016.
– Inform legislation banning head shop substances (2010).
• NPIRS
– monitoring Vision for Change and its implementation
• NDRDI
– Informing National Overdose Prevention Strategy and National Substance Misuse Strategy (which has led to the
Public Health (Alcohol) Bill)
– Medical Bureau of Road Safety/Road Safety Authority

11. Examples of impact
• NDTRS data on drug
treatment
• NDRDI data on drug-
related deaths
• NIDD – almost complete
register of people with
intellectual disability
In 2010, NDTRS data were used in
the development of legislation
banning head shop drugs
NDRDI data were used by European
Medicines Agency to withdraw sale
of some analgesics
The NIDD was used as a sampling
frame for the TILDA intellectual
disability supplement

12. Geographical reporting
• National
• Community Health Organisation area (CHO)
• Local Health Office area (LHO)
• County
• Electoral division area

13. • Local drug and alcohol task force areas
• Alcohol treatment/deaths within local areas
• Wheelchair users in a local area
• Residential accommodation type by area
• Cranmore and Environs Regeneration Masterplan
• Admissions following out of hours GP referrals to
mental health inpatient services within a region.
Geographical profile examples

14. Format
• Reports
• Static data tables
• Interactive data tables
• Static maps
• Charts
• Infographics

15. Access
• Freely available
• Access methods
– Direct access online
– Request for information process (www.hrb.ie)

18. Developments
• LINK - single web-enabled system
• Greater efficiencies
• Geographic data at small area level