Time for a statutory national mortality database

Critical details on age, causes of death and trends are being missed

Sir, – Upon reading the article “Excess deaths in Ireland and beyond: what is behind the surge in mortality rates?” (News, February 11th), we ask the question of the legislators, Department of Health and the HSE why in 2023 are we relying on voluntary and rip.ie reporting of deaths. This misses critical details on age, causes of death and trends.

We call for the establishment of a statutory national mortality database at time of death to allow detailed accurate reporting and learning. – Yours, etc,

MARTINA HEALY,

MICHAEL BARRETT,

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SUZANNE CROWE,

Consultants in

Paediatric Critical Care and

Emergency Medicine,

Children’s Health

Ireland Crumlin,

and National Paediatric

Mortality Committee,

Dublin 12.