HSE Health App Adds Medicine List Feature in 53 Languages to Boost Patient Safety

• New digital tool helps Cork residents track medications and could prevent dangerous drug interactions, with emergency admissions linked to medication harm affecting 10% of older adults

The HSE has launched a comprehensive medicines list feature on its Health App, now available in 53 languages alongside English and Irish, as part of a major push to reduce medication-related harm across Ireland.

The free app, available to anyone over 16, allows users to maintain a secure digital record of all their medications, from prescribed tablets to over-the-counter supplements. Cork residents visiting pharmacies or attending hospital appointments can now present a complete, up-to-date list at the touch of a button.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Recent research shows that 10% of emergency admissions among older adults are directly related to medication harm, highlighting a significant patient safety issue that proper record-keeping could help address.

Ciara Kirke, Clinical Lead of the HSE's National Medication Safety Programme: "Having a list of your medicines is so useful. You can use it to keep track of your medicines. You can use it to communicate information about your medication clearly with healthcare professionals at appointments, or if you're admitted to hospital."

The app goes beyond simple medication tracking. Users can store their European Health Insurance Card, medical card, Long-term Illness card, Drugs Payment Scheme card and GP Visit card digitally. It also provides access to flu and COVID-19 vaccination records and helps locate nearby HSE services, including emergency departments and injury units.

For Cork's diverse community, the multilingual approach represents a significant step forward in healthcare accessibility. The medicines list feature has been translated into 52 languages beyond English, working with community translators to ensure accuracy and cultural sensitivity.

Dr Orla Healy, National Clinical Director in the HSE's Quality and Patient Safety Directorate:

"Medication safety is a key priority for the HSE as outlined in the Patient Safety Strategy 2019-2024. For those of us who take multiple medications daily, it can become confusing to keep track. Keeping a medicines list is a simple tool but it has been shown to help reduce medication related harm."

The comprehensive list should include all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, inhalers, patches, injections, creams, eye drops, vitamins, and herbal or alternative medicines. Users are advised to include dosage information, timing, and any known allergies.

Patient advocacy groups have welcomed the development.

Bernie O'Reilly, Patients for Patient Safety Ireland:

"Healthcare systems are not seamless and the information we share as individuals contributes to our own safety. When the question is 'what medication are you taking?', the answer is 'I have it listed here on my medicines list'."

The feature forms part of the HSE's broader "Know Check Ask" medication safety campaign, aligned with the World Health Organization's Global Patient Safety Challenge called "Medication Without Harm". The campaign encourages patients to know their medicines, check proper usage, and ask healthcare professionals about any concerns.

Maternity patients using the app can also view their hospital appointments, with additional features and appointment types planned for 2025.

The HSE Health App can be downloaded free from Google Play or the App Store. A demonstration video showing how to use the medicines list is available on the HSE website in English, Irish and Irish Sign Language.

Paper versions of the medicines list remain available in all 53 languages from the HSE website at www.hse.ie/safermeds, with blank English versions available to order through www.healthpromotion.ie.