NHS ICT spend set to hit £2.9bn
The total spend on Information and Communications Technology in the NHS is set to hit £2.9bn in 2007/8 according to figures contained in a new report on NHS investment for the King’s Fund. Our Future Health Secured, authored by ex-NatWest boss Sir Derek Wanless, states that ICT spending in the NHS, combining both local and […]
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RCP launches generic record-keeping standards
New standards for generic medical reporting have been developed by the Royal College of Physicians health informatics unit (HIU) and supported by NHS Connecting for Health. The college says that the purpose of the standards is to maximise patient safety and quality of care, support professional best practice and assist compliance with information governance and NHS […]
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Wanless warns NPfIT risking NHS modernisation
In a review of NHS modernisation efforts Sir Derek Wanless has criticised the slow progress of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) and called for an audit of the programme to ensure it supports wider health service modernisation. The report warns that considerable challenges lie ahead in modernising NHS IT systems and says there is "continuing […]
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BMA demands apology from Wales Audit Office
The British Medical Association in Wales has demanded an apology from the Wales Audit Office for suggesting GPs will take advantage of lax governance and commit fraud in their QOF returns. A furious Welsh GPC chairman, Dr David Bailey, has written in strong terms to the Welsh Auditor General, Jeremy Coleman, over the recent WAO […]
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Website enables NHS trauma care comparisons
Hospitals can compare their performances in trauma care against other trusts on a new website developed by the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN). TARN was founded by the University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, and helps hospitals to collect and evaluate data on their trauma care (treatment of serious injuries such […]
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DH blasted for ‘back room deal’ with Dr Foster
The Department of Health ignored procurement guidelines and pursued a ‘back room deal’ on NHS information which was ‘handed to Dr Foster on a plate’, according to a committee of MPs. Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has today heavily criticised the DH for agreeing a joint venture with health informatics company Dr Foster without putting […]
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Newgate Technology begins Northern Ireland EPR roll-out
Newgate Technology, a Scottish-based health software and data collection specialist, has won a tender to deploy a regional theatre management system into 16 hospitals in Northern Ireland. As part of the project Newgate have begun work on piloting their theatre electronic patient record (EPR) software, a system called Nexus, at the Belfast City Hospital. The […]
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DH denies report that NPfIT is to be shelved
Suggestions in a weekend newspaper that the NHS is to shelve the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) have been strongly denied by the Department of Health (DH) today. According to the News of the World, NHS chiefs have agreed to shelve the programme after admitting it was an expensive failure. The report claims: “Hospitals have […]
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East Cheshire chooses CliniSys for chemo prescribing
East Cheshire NHS Trust has awarded a chemotherapy prescribing solution contract to CliniSys Oncology. CliniSys will deploy its ChemoCare solution in the trust later this year where it will provide an e-prescribing solution for adult, solid tumour and haematological oncology at the Macclesfield District General Hospital site. Once implemented, CliniSys says the system will help […]
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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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