Embracing Identity Management - PPSN Collection Boosts Healthcare Efficiency and Patient Safety

Following recent approval by the HSE Senior Leadership Team, Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSN) can now be collected across all Health and Social Care interactions. This represents a significant milestone in the HSE's ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery through digital transformation. The collection and recording of PPS Numbers will play a pivotal role in accurately identifying individuals as well as matching Individual Health Identifiers (IHI) to patient records.

Role of HSE Health Identifiers Service (HIDS) in the PPSN Project

The HIDS team has led this initiative since February 2024, working to establish PPSN collection across all health and social care services. This complex initiative required extensive stakeholder engagement, including collaboration with governance and data protection experts, partnerships with technical providers, and close coordination with government bodies. The HIDS team has also actively collaborated with patient partners from advocacy groups such as IPPOSI, Sage, and Patients for Patient Safety Ireland, as well as directly with service users. In addition, representatives from marginalised communities—including Traveller Health, Roma Health, Homeless Health, and LGBTQI+ services—were engaged to gather feedback, address concerns, and ensure accessibility and inclusivity in the rollout. Public engagement has been central to shaping this initiative. Supported by HSE Communications, a rapid insight survey gathered feedback from the public, and website and social media content were tested with participants to ensure clarity and effectiveness. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many noting that PPSN collection is "needed in a modern world." Public feedback has also highlighted that this process is already familiar, with two-thirds of respondents having previously been asked for their PPSN in a healthcare setting.

Working with Regional Leads for Smooth Rollout

 The HIDS team are working closely with nominated Regional PPSN Leads from each health region to ensure the smooth and effective rollout of PPS Number collection across all sites.

Update Your Communications!

Health services have been advised to update their patient-facing communications to remind patients to bring their PPSN to their next appointment. Services are working towards incorporating the PPSN request into patient-facing communications such as appointment letters, text messages, and follow-up emails. This ensures that patients are informed ahead of their appointments and can provide their PPS Number when they attend.

Next Steps

Moving forward, HIDS will continue to work with each region to aid in the successful implementation of this initiative. We’re excited to see the positive impact PPSN collection will have on supporting the progression of digital transformation in the HSE and ultimately the benefits that this will bring for patient care.

Stay Connected on Social Media

Look out for updates on the PPS Number rollout on HSE’s social media platforms, including X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more. Be sure to follow us for the latest news, and feel free to engage with our posts to help spread the word.

For more information, visit: www.hse.ie/staffppsn