BCS ‘has not changed mind’ about CfH review
The British Computer Society has denied changing its tack by backing the growing calls for a technical review of the health service’s £12.4bn IT programme. Glyn Hayes, chair of the society’s Health Informatics Forum, has defended his position following a report in this week’s Computer Weekly, which detailed a private email from Dr Hayes to […]
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NHS 24 has improved, says health minister
NHS 24 has undergone ‘radical changes’ in order to improve its service to the public since last year’s review calling for an overhaul of the helpline, Scottish health minister Andy Kerr has claimed. Kerr was speaking at the helpline’s annual review, where he said the service had overcome early difficulties to provide a ‘prompt and […]
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Sunderland PCT implements substance misuse EHR
Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust has become the first NHS trust to try the new CareNotes Substance Misuse System, in a two-year deal worth £35,000. The software was launched by Strand Technology in March and is the first IT solution for substance misuse to combine both electronic patient care records with a prescribing module. Dave […]
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Press reports question future roles of iSoft and Accenture
Weekend press reports raised further questions over the future shape of the NHS National Programme for IT and the long term involvement of key software contractor iSoft, together with raising questions over the future involvement of consulting giant Accenture. The Department of Health has said that the NHS IT programme is not in jeopardy or […]
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Derbyshire PCTs ditch NHS Direct for out-of-hours
NHS Direct will no longer provide out-of-hours services to three Derbyshire PCTs after concerns were raised over long callback times. Two deputising services, which were previously supplying OOH services before NHS Direct, will now put out a joint tender with a view to replacing NHS Direct in November. Dr John Grenville, chair of Derbyshire LMCs, […]
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London Ambulance computer crashes nine times
London Ambulance Service 999 emergency operators have been forced to manually write down emergency details and alert paramedics by radio, due to their computer system crashing nine times in the last fortnight. The system is supposed to feed emergency calls into a computer, and automatically alert the nearest ambulance. However an unspecified technical problem has […]
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CSC takes charge of seven ‘out of cluster’ trusts
Computer Sciences Corporation, the local service provider for the North-west and West Midlands is to take over responsibility for the seven ‘out of cluster’ NHS trusts, who had installed iSoft systems ahead of the NHS IT programme. The deal for the seven trusts in London and the South of England potentially sets the precedent for […]
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iSoft reports £382m loss and new funding
Health software firm iSoft has today reported a £382m annual loss but said that it has reached a funding deal with its banks, and signed a new memorandum of understanding with Computer Sciences Corporation. "The new terms will provide the group with funding for its ongoing operations … and provide a period of stability in which […]
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FSA begins formal investigation into iSoft
Healthcare software firm iSoft Group Plc, announced this morning that the Financial Services Authority has begun a formal investigation to investigate accounting irregularities uncovered by the firm earlier this month. A spokesperson for the FSA told E-Health Insider “We will be undertaking a formal investigation”. The spokesperson added this had already begun. “It is underway”. […]
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Fingerprint recognition trialled in Lewisham PCT
A new biometric security system combining single sign-on and fingerprint authentication will be adopted by Lewisham Primary Care Trust this month. The new security system will be used by 300 staff at Lewisham’s Children and Young Person’s Centre, who will be subject to “bulletproof” security checks. The system, developed by Logicalis, will use fingerprint authentication […]
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