Switchover to Digital Britain
The government has confirmed that it wants universal access to 2Mbps broadband by 2012, arguing that this is vital for the future of commercial and public services. Its Digital Britain report, published yesterday, also sets out plans for a “digital switchover” for public services once the 2Mbps universal service commitment has been achieved. This would […]
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GE offers $100m loans to boost EMR use
GE Healthcare has launched a programme of €72m ($100m) in interest-free loans to boost electronic medical record (EMR) adoption in the US. Hospitals and doctors will be offered loans to invest in GE Healthcare’s Centricity EMR software, without having to first raise funding for capital investment. Investment in certified EMR systems forms a key part […]
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HealthSpace expansion plans shelved
The Department of Health has shelved plans for a massive expansion of its personal health record project, HealthSpace.
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EU Network set up to share human samples
An ambitious €170m network linking European biobanks and related information resources to connect researchers across the continent is to be established.
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GPs told to harness IT innovation
GP practices are being encouraged to harness innovative IT services to improve the quality of care they deliver to patients. The BMA’s General Practitioner Committee has launched a new publication setting out examples of how GPs have developed services for their patients to inspire others to follow suit. Developing general practice: listening to patients says […]
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Finland establishes industry e-health centre
The Finnish health and welfare sector has established a strategic expertise centre (T&H SHOK) focused on improving health and well-being using technology. The new centre will be led by a limited company jointly established by 29 Finnish firms, including IT services firm Tieto. The new centre is intended to improve the quality and efficiency of […]
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UK telehealth trials missing minorities
Concerns have been raised that the UK’s biggest ever trial of telehealth technologies is excluding non-English speaking people, despite the promises of social inclusion. A conference this week heard that non-English speakers and people without phones are often unable to benefit from the large-scale pilots now being developed. The Department of Health’s Whole System Demonstrator […]
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Berners-Lee to advise on public data use
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the man widely credited with inventing the world wide web, is to advise the UK government on public information delivery. Sir Tim will head a panel of experts who will advise the Minister of the Cabinet Office on how the government can best use the internet to make non-personal public data as […]
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GPs urged to be ‘constantly alert’ on privacy
GPs have been advised to be “constantly alert” to potential threats to patient confidentiality and privacy as their representatives back an opt-in model for data sharing. This week’s National Local Medical Committees’ conference supported a five point motion which backed GPs role as data holder for patient records, called for an opt-in approach to transfer […]
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European hospitals share real-time videos
Hospitals in Norway, Italy and Spain have been linked together using an advanced video conferencing system enabling them to share real-time images of surgery for training and diagnosis. The systems were linked as part of a demonstration at the Terena Networking Conference in Malaga this week, intended to show how similar telemedicine systems could improve […]
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