Health Intelligence is part of Population Health service within the Health Service Executive and is responsible for capturing and utilising knowledge to improve health outcomes for the population.

Population Health and Health Intelligence

Population Health's mission is to promote and protect the health of the population, with particular emphasis on reducing health inequalities. It takes account of all determinants of health and recognises that good health is the responsibility of everyone. The directorate acts as a unifying influence for the entire health service, and the challenge is to ensure that a Population Health approach supports and informs the planning and delivery of health services in Ireland.

What is Health Intelligence?

Health Intelligence is a subdirectorate within Population Health. We support the use and development of knowledge to improve the health of the population. The Assistant National Director is Dr. Davida De La Harpe.

• Click here for information about the Health Intelligence Team

What does Health Intelligence do?

• Health Information and Surveillance, Population Figures.
• Evidence Based Health Care, Research, and Development
• Support for Health Technology Assessment and Health Impact Assessment providing all those who make decisions in the HSE with high-quality information or tools to determine potential impacts of decisions on provision of new technologies or other developments on health and health inequalities.
• Knowledge Management: Capturing, collating, storing and sharing knowledge:
• Linkages between health care professionals and relevant health care information.

 Health Status of the Population of Ireland.

The health of the Irish population has improved considerably over the years. Life expectancy in Ireland is at the highest level ever, and people generally rate their health as good. A wide variety of factors, including lifestyle, environment, and deprivation impact on the health of a population. Health services are only one of many influences.

The Irish health services are currently undergoing a change in structure and organisation, which is being implemented through the Transformation Programme.

This document aims to inform the development of future health services. It is essential in planning health services that they are organised on the basis of identified need, and that priority is given to those areas that can produce the best potential benefit in improving health status. This is best catered for through a population health approach.

Click here to view the full report

For updates on Swine Flu, visit the Health Protection Surveillance Centre website. The site contains factsheets, guidance, travel advice and news updates.

Click here to view details on the All Ireland electronic Health Library