Ireland suspends two national health IT projects
The Irish Health Service Executive (IHSE) has announced that it is to stop the development of two controversial new health service computer systems. Originally due to cost just £6.2m (€9m), the two systems have so far cost £80m (€116m) and are still not fully implemented The IHSE announced on Thursday that it would suspend the rollout of […]
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HSCIC in talks with private sector partner
The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), the Department of Health agency with prime responsibility for co-ordinating NHS and social care statistics, has confirmed that it is in discussion with a potential partner from the private sector. A report in the Guardian said that the centre was negotiating to hand over work to Dr […]
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NHS 24 report calls for radical review of helpline
A radical review of Scotland’s health helpline NHS 24 has recommended using the new volume predictive technology to ensure the best possible match of supply to demand as one of a raft of measures to improve the troubled service. The report – which is highly critical of NHS 24’s board – also says that more […]
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E-health not reaching full potential, says study
An industry study into the takeup of e-health technology within the UK has concluded that health professionals are not taking full advantage of what’s available to them, and that waiting for supporting infrastructure to be put in place by the National Programme for IT is not necessary. The study [PDF, 350K], undertaken by The E-Health Innovation […]
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Tunstall teams up with Honeywell HomMed
Tunstall, the UK telecare and telehealth solutions specialist, has formed an distribution and alliance agreement with Honeywell HomMed, a leading US provider of remote patient monitoring devices. Under the agreement Tunstall will offer Honeywell’s HomMed Genesis monitor throughout the UK, already used by 350,000 patients. Tunstall says it will target the chronic disease management market, […]
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Listening exercise shows support for central database
Support for the idea of a central NHS database and a desire for more ‘joined up’ social and health care have emerged from the first rounds of consultation on the future of primary care. The health department is currently running a series of five consultation meetings around England, entitled ‘Your health, your say, your care’, […]
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IT training in core of proposed GP curriculum
Information management and technology should be a core part of the curriculum for training GPs, a blueprint on GP education has recommended. The Royal College of General Practitioners has drawn up a new draft curriculum covering 14 core areas which will come into force from August 2007. The curriculum will lead to the award of […]
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Online tool to promote NHS infection awareness
An online training tool to help all NHS staff understand infection control and make hospitals cleaner has been launched by chief nursing officer (CNO), Chris Beasley. Launching the new online tool at the Infection Control Nurses Association annual conference, the CNO said: “This innovative approach to training will mean hundreds and thousands of NHS staff […]
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QFLU will keep tabs on flu cases
Hundreds of GPs across Britain have signed up to contribute daily reports on flu cases to a new database that will help the government to plan for medical care and vaccine supplies this winter. As the Department of Health launched its annual campaign to encourage take up of free flu vaccinations for eligible groups, GP […]
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Universal CRS sheds bright light on old issues
Many of the questions raised by electronic records are not new, but their universal nature sheds a bright light on current practice, according to Harry Cayton, chair of the Care Record Development Board (CRDB). “You find some very murky and dusty areas of practice,” he added in a presentation to the New Frontiers conference on […]
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