New Innovative Information System for Cancer Treatment Implemented at UHG

University Hospital Galway is the first designated cancer centre to roll out and implement the National Cancer Information System (NCIS) which will be implemented in all 26 hospitals delivering Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy nationally.

The NCIS is a key priority project for the National Cancer Control Programme to facilitate hospitals to implement quality, efficient systemic anti-cancer therapy in line with the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. The project is jointly sponsored by the Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), the HSE Chief Information Officer and the Director of Acute Hospitals and is prioritised within the Cancer IT programme of the eHealth Strategy for Ireland. The system which is now fully live in UHG provides a single national computerised system that records and stores information about a patient’s cancer case, diagnosis and treatment. The goal of this project is to deliver a clinical information system to support the care of oncology and haemato-oncology patients including the provision of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy or Chemotherapy across Ireland.

Access to a patient’s longitudinal cancer record will be available through the NCIS. This will ensure that all relevant healthcare providers will have access to the patients’ data in an appropriate and timely manner.

Other key functionalities include prescribing of Systemic Anti-Cancer treatment, electronic medication administration records, support for aseptic compounding, Multi-Disciplinary Meetings (MDM) documentation and recommendations, and reporting.

Prof Risteárd Ó Laoide, National Director, National Cancer Control Programme said: “I am delighted to see University Hospital Galway, a designated cancer centre, roll out and implement this national project. This project, which will be implemented in all 26 hospitals delivering cancer services, will make a significant difference to cancer patients across Ireland through the implementation of electronic systems for Multi-Disciplinary Meetings, shared tumour records and the prescribing, production and administration of chemotherapy. This will improve our cancer health services in line with Slaintecare, the eHealth Strategy and the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.”

Speaking about the success of the project in UHG, Peter Kidd, NCIS Project Manager said, “The patient’s journey is central to the design of the new system, it’s about ensuring the right medication, the right patient, the right dose, the right place and the right time.

“We are the first hospital in the country to host and share Multi-Disciplinary Meetings on NCIS. This means that specialists from different areas of medicine and different geographical regions are coming together, accessing the same information in real-time and making informed treatment plans for patients. It is a safer and faster way of ensuring that doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals have access to the right information to provide the best care.

“The rollout of the pilot project in UHG commenced in late 2018 and was supported by the NCCP with the appointment of a project manager/pharmacy and nurse training resources.  The implementation of the project has been challenging due to the impact of COVID -19 and the HSE cyber attack but we are now in a position to continue mainstreaming NCIS and optimise its benefits.  Currently a number of our cancer patient records on the oncology and haemato-oncology day ward are managed through the new system and going forward we aim to have all cancer patient records live on NCIS. 

“I would like to thank the many clinical and operational teams who have worked so hard to develop this important tool in cancer care.”

Chris Kane, General Manager, Galway University Hospitals said, “The implementation of NCIS marks an important milestone for UHG. NCIS will improve the quality and safety of patient care for people with cancer and I am very glad to see this project come to fruition.”