Menopause website wins information award
A website written by clinicians to help women through the menopause has come first prize in the Patient Information Website category in the BMA Medical Book Competition Awards 2004. Menopause Matters (www.menopausematters.co.uk) was set up by Dr Heather Currie, associate specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician, at the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, and run by her […]
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New QOF software to hide data, but not for all GPs
NPfIT has developed software that automatically anonymises GP electronic patient records for audit by primary care organisations under the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), in response to concerns over confidentiality from the BMA – but it will not work with all practices. The program, QOF Assessor Toolkit, will connect with the majority of GP software, […]
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Engage or risk failure, BMA IT chief tells NPfIT
Dr John Powell, chair of the British Medical Association’s IT committee, has issued a fresh call to the National Programme for IT to engage with healthcare professionals or risk another public sector IT failure. Speaking at the IBC Informa ‘eHealth: Transforming healthcare access and delivery’ conference in London yesterday, Dr Powell said: "We need to learn […]
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Counter fraud staff to gain right to access NHS records
Health Minister, Lord Warner today unveiled new powers that will provide NHS counter fraud staff with the power to demand access to NHS information, including patient records, held on paper or computer. Failure to comply would become a prosecutable offence. The proposed powers, which will require legislation, include a new right for the NHS Counter […]
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A few billion between friends?
After a week of headlines about implementation costs for the NHS IT modernisation programme E-Health Insider takes a rain check on understanding of this key issue.
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Why GPs face Hobson’s choice
An exclusive interview with Sean Riddell, deputy managing director of EMIS, about how he believes that GPs are being denied the choice of systems promised to them under the GP contract.
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EMIS hits back at ‘speculation and misrepresentation’
Leading UK primary care IT supplier EMIS has issued new guidance to practices using its systems stating the firm’s long-term commitment to the NHS market and to continue to invest in developing its systems, despite not being an official supplier under the National Programme for IT. In a letter to users the company’s directors state: […]
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Laptop and mobile ban lifted in new MHRA guidelines
The Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued new guidelines about the use of wireless communication and electronics in hospitals and clinics, saying that they ought to be seen as managed risks, rather than banned outright. A ban on mobile phones, laptop computers, handheld gaming devices, 2.5G and 3G is now “not required, and impossible […]
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Trusts refuse to pay suppliers’ legacy upgrade costs
The National Programme for IT’s policy on legacy systems is causing confusion among trusts and suppliers over who should pay the costs of upgrading systems to enable them to communicate with the spine. Evidence seen by E-Health Insider indicates that most NHS trusts are unwilling to collaboratively fund suppliers upgrade costs – an approach […]
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Patient and clinical advisory boards to be replaced
A new Care Record Development Board (CRDB) is to be created to help ensure NHS IT helps deliver better patient care. The new body will replace the National Programme for IT’s Patient Advisory Board (PAB) and National Clinical Advisory Board (NCAB). The CRDB will be chaired by Harry Clayton the Department of Health’s director for […]
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