50 practices to trial Welsh e-referrals
- 27 April 2009
Almost 50 GP practices in Wales will shortly become early adopters for the Welsh electronic referral system, Informing Healthcare has announced.
The practices will use the new Welsh Clinical Communications Gateway, a version of the Scottish Care Information Gateway already used in Scotland for 97% of referrals.
The 46 practices in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan will begin work shortly, according to the Welsh IT agency, which has already run a proof of concept trial with three GP practices in Cardiff and Vale, the Vale of Glamorgan Local Heath Board’s Referral Management Centre, and Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust.
The electronic referral system will initially be available to practices using EMIS PCS or INPS’s Vision system. Informing Healthcare said early implementation work would include development of condition specific referral remplates, in collaboration with clinicians and clinical networks.
The agency said three other trusts, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust, Gwent and North West Wales, have expressed an interest in adopting the Clinical Communications Gateway with national availability planned from summer 2009.
Future plans include developing the Gateway to enable transfer of electronic discharge information.
Related articles:
Welsh e-referral plans and controversy
Wales begins pilots of e-referrals
