National Cancer Information System launched

The National Cancer Information System (NCIS) has gone live, the HSE has announced, with St Luke’s Hospital in Rathgar the first site nationally to install the system.

The NCIS allows for the recording of information about a patient’s cancer case, diagnosis and treatment with cancer drugs and supports the care of oncology and haemato-oncology patients across Ireland.  

Dr Jerome Coffey, National Director, National Cancer Control Programmesaid: “This project is making a significant difference for all patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (chemotherapy) across Ireland enabling a digital support for prescribing and administering chemotherapy.”

Ms Jacqueline Robinson, General Manager, St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network said: “As the first site nationally to launch NCIS, today marks an important milestone for St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network. Collaboration with the National Director, National Cancer Control Programme on this project represents a key element of our strategy as we continue to deliver excellence every day in cancer care. Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible”.

The NCIS project is led by the National Cancer Control Programme in conjunction with the HSE Office of the Chief Information Officer (OoCIO) and the HSE Acute Operations Division, in response to requirements identified by Medical Oncology Consultants and other health professionals delivering cancer care services. Some of the key concerns noted included a lack of information sharing between hospitals, difficulties in obtaining patient records and the absence of a centralised IT system.

Patient Mr Oliver Donohoe said: “Well done on your NCIS system. It meets a long overdue need to modernise cancer information availability in the Irish health system. As a user and observer of cancer treatment and information availability in recent years, I am very glad to see your project coming to fruition and I appreciate its value. Best of luck with its promotion and implementation. It deserves the full hearted support of all involved in providing cancer treatment”.