Combined Government Gateway Review Due for IT Programme
The National NHS IT Programme is scheduled to be submitted to a combined Government Gateway review by the end of October, with a full business case then due to be submitted to Treasury for approval by November. The latest version of the timetable for the National IT Programme was detailed by Jeremy Thorp, the NHS […]
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Planning Blight Accusation For IT Programme
Over 300 IT suppliers and would-be suppliers to the NHS packed the QE2 Conference Centre in London last week for an update on the National IT Programme – but they found hard news of progress thin on the ground. BBC science correspondent, Fergus Walsh, who chaired the event, conveyed the opinion of a participant who […]
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Scottish Universities Lead Virtual Medical School
A group of leading international medical schools, led by Scotland’s University of Dundee, have announced plans to create the world’s first online medical school. More than 50 institutions in 16 countries have helped plan the International Virtual Medical School, which is planned to open in the summer of 2004. All of Scotland’s five medical schools, […]
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NHS Information Charter Needed Says Consumers Association
The NHS should publish a charter outlining how it will share health information and service users must be given a chance to isolate and control access to the most sensitive details, according to new research on public attitudes to electronic records. The research, conducted by the Consumers Association and the NHS Information Authority, found that […]
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Investment, Expansion and Reform Plans Reinforce IM&T Agenda
Information management and technology (IM&T) is identified as one of the key areas underpinning NHS and social care development which needs to be expanded over the next three years. The Department of Health’s priorities and planning framework for 2003-6, Investment Expansion and Reform published this week says that nationally the NHS will be looking for […]
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Homerton Launches Text Message Reminders
Homerton University Hospital, in East London, has became the first UK hospital to launch a mobile phone-based text messaging service, called ‘Meditext’, to remind patients of their appointments and prevent unnecessary cancellations. Patients are sent a text-message reminder two days before they are due to attend an appointment at the Department of Sexual Health. The […]
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Green Light for New Shared Services Authority
The NHS Shared Services Initiative, which is responsible for shared NHS financial services, the finance and e-commerce project and the development of the electronic staff record, has received approval to establish itself as a special health authority. The new authority will come into being in April 2003. The announcement about the change of status says […]
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Personal Health Journal Advocated
A US group of health reformers has advocated the development of a Personal Health Journal, a voluntary system of electronic medical records that would be transportable over the Internet, but owned and controlled by individual patients. The proposals suggest how the NHS’s electronic health records programme may become a key tool to promote quality, patient […]
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EDS Signs $142m Deal for NHS Directory and e-Mail Service
IT services multinational, EDS, has finalised a $142m (£91m) deal to develop and deliver a full e-mail and directory service for NHS staff. EDS was first announced as the preferred bidder for the contract in May when the company was chosen ahead of Syntegra, the networking arm of British Telecom. The new service will give […]
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e-Lock Secures UK Drug Database Samples
Samples in the UK’s leading comprehensive drug identification database are kept secure by E-lock, rather than old style locks and keys. The database, kept at St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, contains 17,000 samples of tablets and capsules ranging from illicit drugs to herbal remedies and even confectionery that may be mistaken for drugs. Sound […]
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