EPS underspend due to slower rollout
Funding to pay pharmacists for using the electronic prescriptions service was underspent by more than 50% in the last financial year, pharmacy representatives have revealed. Only £22m out of the £58m allocated for EPS allowances by the Department of Health was spent in 2005-6 but the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) is confident the money […]
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Universal e-prescribing recommended for US
All prescribers and pharmacies should be using e-prescriptions by 2010, US experts on drug error prevention have recommended. A report from the Institute of Medicine’s committee on identifying and preventing medication errors says that greater use of information technology in prescribing and dispensing medicines is one of the main steps that should be taken to […]
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First chief clinical officer appointed by CfH
Professor Michael Thick has been appointed as Connecting for Health’s first chief clinical officer. The new chief clinical officer, who takes up his post with immediate effect, will be responsible for clinical governance and risk and safety management, and according to the agency will be "key to engaging stakeholders in the work of NHS CfH." […]
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GP Pan User Group debates data migration
Concern about the costs of data migration under the new system choice initiative was voiced by representatives at the first meeting of the GP super user group set up by Connecting for Health. The GP Pan User Group (GP PUG) meeting spent its inaugural session hearing about the GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) initiative and […]
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Excessive drinkers helped by online programme
A new, computer-based training programme has helped alcoholics cut down their intake. Excessive drinkers who took part in the project had a “significant reduction” in their alcohol consumption which was maintained at the three month follow-up. The research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, was initiated by two senior members of the School of […]
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CMO highlights e-health initiatives
A new programme using e-mail alerts, chat rooms and on-line notice boards has been developed to fight “consistently high” levels of obesity in the East Midlands. The programme is highlighted in the annual report of the chief medical officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson. He said the same issue was highlighted in last year’s report as […]
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NPfIT ‘favourability’ drops with managers
Both IM&T and general managers in the NHS appear to view the National Programme for IT less favourably than they did last year, though there is overwhelming support for the programme’s future aims, according to a new poll. The poll conducted by MORI for Connecting for Health revealed the drop in ratings from NHS managers […]
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Mixed feelings on NPfIT in primary care, poll shows
Only one in four GPs feel favourably about the National Programme for IT although the overwhelming majority rate NPfIT as an important priority, according to Connecting for Health’s latest poll of opinion among doctors, nurses, NHS managers and IM&T staff. GPs felt substantially less favourable than hospital doctors, with 25% of GPs liking what they […]
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RFID records to be implanted in 280 patients
RFID implant manufacturers VeriChip have announced that 280 patients from the New Jersey area are to have health records chips inserted under their skin as part of a trial into the use of the technology to manage long-term conditions. Volunteers who are patients of the Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ and who suffer from chronic […]
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iSoft investigates possible accounts irregularities
iSoft, the healthcare IT supplier whose financial woes have been hitting the headlines since January, has announced an investigation into possible accounting irregularities in financial years up to the year ending 30 April 2005. A statement from the company said: “The board of iSoft has received information suggesting possible accounting irregularities affecting revenue recognition under […]
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