NHS Direct Online to be moved to Choices
Parts of NHS Direct Online, the highly successful and popular web-based patient advice and information service, look set to be transferred to rival NHS Choices. The planned move is not thought to impact NHS Direct’s core nurse-led national telephone advice service, which handles over 8 million calls a year. NHS Choices, the patient information portal run […]
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Data recording may explain trust’s high death rate
An inadequate system for recording and coding data on patients has been blamed by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust for its mortality rates coming under investigation by the Healthcare Commission. England’s healthcare watchdog announced that the trust’s mortality rate was higher than the national average, and that the commission was concerned about the effectiveness of […]
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IC boss says no special treatment for Dr Foster
The chief executive of the Information Centre has made it clear that Dr Foster Intelligence has no privileged access to data, as part of its partnership. Speaking at a Health Service Journal (HSJ) conference last month, Tim Straughan said organisations should not have to pay external companies such as Dr Foster for data, as the […]
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Former IC chief loses tribunal claim
The former head of the NHS Information Centre, who claimed she was made a ‘scapegoat’ for a heavily criticised joint venture between the Department of Health (DH) and information specialists, Dr Foster, has failed to overturn a confidentiality agreement about the case. Professor Denise Lievesley, who was chief executive of the Information Centre (IC) from […]
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Six firms shortlisted for £80m NHS Choices contract
Six companies have reportedly been shortlisted to run the Department of Health’s NHS Choices website, following an OJEU tender process, which came to an end in December. According to HSJ magazine, the six shortlisted companies bidding for the three year, £80m contract, include the current provider Dr Foster Intelligence, the current provider, and much larger […]
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Experience information deficit must be overcome
A steering group focused on harnessing the power of public opinion has found that many NHS boards do not have a systematic approach to using patient experience information, hence creating an information deficit, which must be overcome. In a research report, developed by senior health officials form the NHS and professional medical bodies, the steering […]
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Ex-IC chief lodges ‘scapegoat’ claim
The former chief executive of the Information Centre (IC) has claimed that she was made a “scapegoat” for the heavily criticised joint venture between the Department of Health (DH) and information specialists, Dr Foster. Professor Denise Lievesley, who left the top post at the IC last year, says in an affidavit submitted to an employment […]
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Information Centre appoints new chief executive
The Information Centre (IC) for health and social care has appointed Tim Straughan, current acting chief executive, as its chief executive. Announcing the appointment, Mike Ramsden, chairman of The IC said: “I’m delighted to announce Tim’s appointment and believe he is the right person to lead The IC as it works to provide even greater […]
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DH to award £80m contract for NHS Choices
The Department of Health has gone out to tender to find a new supplier to run the NHS Choices patient information website, in a lucrative three year deal initially worth £60-80m. The chosen supplier will be expected to generate in excess of 20m hits to the NHS Choices website, together with generating significant revenue from […]
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NHS Direct on a mission to explain
Matt Tee has been CEO of NHS Direct for the past four months, he told us of his plans for the organisation.
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