Lessons learned
Southern England, perhaps more than any other region, has produced a mixed picture of NHS IT modernisation. Senior executives from local service provider, Fujitsu, explain the real situation as they see it.
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‘Widespread concerns’ about NPfIT penalties
In a new survey NHS foundation trusts have reported ‘widespread concerns’ about the limited functionality of key systems from the NHS National Programme for IT. Some foundation trusts (FTs) that have sought to delay taking systems until problems are fixed say they have been told to expect fines running into many millions of pounds. The FTs […]
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Warwick develops mobile drugs data for ambulances
Academics at the University of Warwick have developed a new hand held computer link to emergency medical data designed to help ambulance crews get quick access to information sources on common confusions faced by paramedics. Working closely with the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC), the academics have developed software that will provide emergency […]
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BMA calls for inquiry into NHS Direct referrals
The British Medical Association has called for an inquiry into the NHS’s information and advice service, NHS Direct, claiming it is ‘putting a strain on the system’. The move has been backed by the NHS Alliance and Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel who feel that call handlers are referring too many patients to GPs or […]
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Granger says NPfIT programme substantially delivered
Richard Granger, the chief executive of Connecting for Health, today said that the NHS IT project has been substantially delivered with key component programmes now nearing completion, though 90% of acute trusts have yet to get new systems. In a key development he said that live trials of the patient summary care record would begin ‘within days’, the […]
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Ambulance software to be rolled out in three regions
Ambulance software that enables paramedics to record patient details electronically and send them to hospital staff ahead of arrival in A&E is to be rolled out in three English NHS regions. Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) has announced an agreement with Canadian-based Medusa Medical Technologies to equip ambulances in the North, Midlands and East of England […]
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Mobile phone pics help emergency NHS 24 diagnosis
A Scottish woman has had a life-threatening condition diagnosed after using a mobile phone to send pictures of her swollen legs to an NHS 24 doctor. Fran Neri, 25, was rushed to hospital after the shocked NHS 24 doctor received the pictures of her swollen legs and immediately sent an ambulance. According to the Scotsman […]
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Consumer is king in wireless health
More consumer-driven wireless developments are on the horizon as mobile technology enjoys wider adoption in healthcare.
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Isle of Man chooses System C for major contract
System C has won a £7.5m contract to provide an integrated island-wide healthcare IT service in the Isle of Man. The contract was won against stiff competition with senior sources confirming reports that iSoft and Cerner, contractors to provide systems for the NHS in England, were in the running. Nobles Hospital in Douglas and the […]
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Funding axed for ambulance IT system
Urgent talks are underway to save a computerised capacity and activity monitoring system (CAMS) used to direct ambulances to hospitals best placed to deal with patients after PCTs in the East of England SHA withdrew their funding. The East Anglian Ambulance Trust and acute trusts across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are in last minute talks […]
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