Anyone using the health or social care services is to be given a unique number, known as an Individual Health Identifier, or an IHI.

It's part of a new scheme by HIQA to improve patient safety and planning, and reduce duplication, and mistakes.

The system will be operated by the HSE and it will be responsible for safely storing all personal data - no clinical information will be recorded with the number.

Acting Director of Health Information with HIQA Rachel Flynn says most other countries have a similar system in place already and Ireland is lagging behind: