IT investment could create 35% savings

Investment in IT and diagnostic technology would save money and directly improve patients’ health, new research shows. A series of trials using new technology were used across the UK, Belgium and Germany, focusing on where and how money could be saved. The research was...<<Read More>>

Call for leadership ‘at every level’

Health informatics and healthcare records should be seen as a leadership issue at every level, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and BCS suggest, calling for doctors to take on specific leadership roles. They also recommend the implementation of clinical records standards as...<<Read More>>

EPR system causes patient delays

The implementation of an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system has caused delays in treating patients at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, it has emerged. The trust introduced the system on December 3, 2011 as part of the National Programme for IT to improve...<<Read More>>

NHS-CSC deal could see more Lorenzo roll-outs

Computing giant CSC has signed a ‘non-binding letter of intent’ with the NHS to find a way forward over its contracts to deliver new IT systems and electronic health records at trusts, originally signed as part of the defunct National Programme for IT. CSC said the letter “reflects a...<<Read More>>

Electronic system speeds up DNF delivery

Macclesfield district general hospital has delivered Discharge Notification Forms to GP practices within the 24-hour target 84% of the time following the implementation of a new system. Following the installation of an electronic link-up, the system can automatically generate...<<Read More>>

NHS presses forward on online consultations

The medical director of the NHS has announced his support for the greater use of online consultations and Skype technology in the health service. The programme could speed up the process of diagnosis and referral, making the NHS...<<Read More>>

IT cuts will hit information revolution, doctors warn

The BMA has warned that not enough NHS organisations have the systems in place to cope with the proposed transformation in healthcare information collection and sharing. The Government’s ‘Information Revolution’ consultation out... <<Read more>>

Enabling information to flow

Communicating effectively

Advances in information management in laboratory medicine will allow better communication between pathologists in the laboratory and clinicians on the front line, reports Richard Mackillican. Establishing efficient and effective lines of communication between different departments can...

More patients using the internet

The Department of Health has said that more patients than ever are using NHS online resources to find out information on their conditions and to self diagnose. A study by Imperial College has found that a third of people logging onto www.nhs.uk, did not then go on to book a GP appointment – potentially...

BCS to hold NHS IT debates

The British Computer Society is to hold two open door meetings to debate what should be informatics professional’s response to the Department of Health’s NHS Information Revolution consultation. Matthew Swindells, Chair of BCS Health, said “The government has outlined their overall plans...

The case for NPfIT 2.0

Experts agree that electronic health records are the key to developing safe, affordable 21st century health care. IT has delivered gains in industries such as finance, commerce and the media. There is widespread dismay and frustration at the slow rate of dissemination of IT in health care. NPfIT was the grand programme that would correct this, says Dr DerekMeyer...

Proposed NHS ‘information revolution’ welcomed by RCP

The Royal College of Physicians has welcomed the government’s announcement on plans to launch an ‘information revolution’ in the NHS. Professor John Williams, Director of the Health Informatics Unit at the Royal College of Physicians said...

Review finds value in Summary Care Records

The Department of Health has announced that a review into Summary care Records has found that they ‘ will prove valuable for patients needing emergency care’. Health Minister, Simon Burns, said: “I am pleased that a consensus has emerged about...

It’s the little things that count

As the NHS prepares for a period of austerity, patient safety is a subject which is more relevant than ever, with the safety of the most vulnerable of patients becoming paramount. This is why the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust has invested in a security system to keep all of its new born babies safe and sound, reports Richard Mackillican...

Integrated sustainability in Oldham

Budgetary pressures and environmental responsibilities are now important considerations which must be taken into account when engineering NHS facilities and services. This is reflected in NHS Oldham’s new facilities, reports Richard Mackillican

The Oldham Integrated Care Centre opened in November last year and...

MPs calls for NHS IT contract probe

An MP has questioned the amount which the NHS is paying for one of its many IT contracts.

A member of the Public Accounts Committee, Richard Bacon MP, has questioned why over four hundred million pounds has been allocated to a project to update NHS operating systems...

NHS to save hundreds of million from IT project

The National Programme for IT is to be scaled back to the tune of £700 million, taking the total cost from £12.7 billion to £11.4 billion.

Although all current contracts will be carried out, some parts of the programme will now be left up to trusts to arrange for themselves.

Health minister Simon Burns said...

Going green

Acting in a more environmental way will be key to the future sustainability of the NHS and while technology can hold the key to reducing carbon emissions and increasing efficiency, the way in which that technology is used will also be crucial.

With this in mind, National Health Executive spoke to environmental IT expert,Oliver Skertchlyto find out how IT professionals in the NHS can...

BCS welcomes IT flexibility for trusts

BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, has welcomed the government’s stance on allowing trusts more flexibility in their IT arrangements.

Matthew Swindells, Chair of BCS Health, said, "BCS welcomes a more flexible approach to the national programme, but urges the Department of Health to ensure that this is a step towards the 'information revolution' with the department providing the standards and leadership that...

This is just the beginning

Although the use of information technology in clinical procedures has revolutionised the quality of patient care, its application on the administrative side of the health service still leaves a lot to be desired, reports Richard Mackillican

The use of computers in the NHS has dramatically changed the way in which care is delivered to patients, with many people alive today owing their survival to the technology which has evolved over the years...