10.07.12
Informatics agreement published by DH
The future of informatics has been outlined in a new Department of Health organisational summary.
The key organisations involved include the External Relations Directorate in the Department of Health (DH), the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), the Patients and Information Directorate in the NHS Commissioning Board, and Public Health England.
The roles of NHS providers and commissioners will also change. The document, ‘Informatics: The future – An organisational summary’, notes: “In the past, primary care trusts (PCTs) have led on the provision and support of GP IT systems. In the future, strategic leadership for GP IT will be provided by the NHS Commissioning Board, working with and through Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Commissioning Support Service (CSS) organisations to ensure that GPs continue to have a choice of quality solutions which meet local needs.”
The document incorporates the agreement for the HSCIC to collect, analyse and present data, as well as manage and monitor delivery of national systems and services, approve and accredit local and national IT systems and lead on the development and production of a code of practice for handling and releasing confidential information.
The Department of Health said: “Used effectively, information will empower patients and other service users, and enable a culture of shared decision-making.
“It will facilitate and drive integration across care settings and inform health and well-being strategies that best meet the needs of local communities. It will also help to generate greater efficiencies and productivity across health and social care.”
By April 2013, all functions and people to support the informatics functions will be operational in the new receiving organisations.
For more information, visit: www.wp.dh.gov.uk/publications/files/2012/07/Informatics-the-future_final.pdf
Last week the Department of Health announced that Katie Davis is stepping down as managing director for NHS Informatics as part of its transition, while Tim Kelsey has taken up his appointment as the National Director for Patients and Information in the NHS Commissioning Board and Charlie Massey has become Director General of External Relations for the Department of Health.
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