NHS Direct reports lower calls, higher web traffic
NHS Direct has reported a fall in telephone calls received, attributed to an increased usage of its website for health information and advice. Though full figures are yet to be disclosed, the service has issued initial figures showing that on a month-by-month basis, caller numbers are down approximately 7% on 2006, with around 400,000 calls […]
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Study reveals savings using blood tracking
A new study at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, has found that significant time and cost savings can be achieved by hospitals, by using electronic blood tracking systems such as Neoteric Technology’s BloodTrack OnDemand. The study for the American Association of Blood Banks’ Journal of Transfusion found that the time to access blood in the […]
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EHI’s industry news roundup 20.03.08
E-Health Insider’s industry news round up for the week ending 20 March 2008 featuring supplier news, acquisitions and appointments. Supplier news Philips and Ascent Profit sign €25m deal for digital radiography systems in China Royal Philips Electronics and Ascent Profit, a Chinese medical equipment wholesaler, have signed a €25m contract to bring digital radiography systems […]
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Choose and Book release four due 12 April
Release four of Choose and Book will go live on 12 April, delivering the government’s policy of free choice at referral, the Department of Health has announced. Guidance from the DH sets out how the Choose and Book software has been changed to deliver the Free Choice agenda and the likely impact on referrers and […]
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German government unveils smartcard costs
The German ministry of health has issued details on recent and estimated future costs of the healthcare smartcard project in response to a parliamentary inquiry, initiated by the Liberal Democrats (FDP). Germany’s current government is made up of a ‘grand coalition’ of Conservatives and Social Democrats, with the FDP as the leading opposition party. The […]
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Choice extended to all hospitals in England
Patients having non-emergency treatment in England will be able to choose from any hospital in the country as of 1 April, the Department of Health has announced. From the beginning of April any patient receiving routine elective treatment will be able to choose from any NHS approved hospital provider in England, under a new system called ‘Free Choice’. In […]
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VDE paper supports telemonitoring for diabetics
German industry association, VDE, has published a paper on telemonitoring for diabetic patients. The paper urges politicians to make greater use of telemonitoring technology in order to reduce long-term complications of diabetes and costs for diabetic patients. The main function of telemonitoring in diabetes is to transmit blood sugar levels electronically, via landline or mobile […]
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HealthSpace wins clinician vote
HealthSpace, the NHS’s own personal health record project, has been voted the most exciting part of the NHS national IT programme. Dr Gillian Braunold, clinical lead for the Summary Care Record (SCR) and HealthSpace, revealed the results of the vote last week. Speaking on Thursday, 13 March at a DH press conference, she said “The […]
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ePractice launches eHealth Procurers Forum
The European Commission’s ePractice website has launched a new eHealth Procurers Forum where practitioners involved in e-health procurement can meet and share experiences. A spokesperson told E-Health Europe: “The eHealth Procurers Forum is an open space to express opinions and exchange knowledge and where members are encouraged to provide contributions and participate in the discussions […]
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£8m to be spent on telehealth in Scotland
The Scottish government has announced that an extra £8m is to be spent on telecare over the next two years. Public health minister Shona Robison made the announcement during a visit to Inverness, where she said hi-tech devices will be made available to help the elderly and vulnerable live in their own homes. The money […]
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