IT to be included in hospital ‘deep cleans’
IT and telephone equipment have been included in the Department of Health’s list of items be subjected to a rigorous cleansing, when all trusts are given a ‘deep clean’ to tackle infections such as MRSA and c. difficile. Every hospital in Britain is to undergo a ward-by-ward ‘deep clean’ within the next year to rid […]
News
Johnson named as new health secretary
Alan Johnson has today been appointed as England’s new health secretary by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. The former education secretary replaces Patricia Hewitt who resigned last night. In a letter to Brown, Hewitt said she has decided to step down to give more time to her “constituency and family.” Johnson, 57, was the runner-up in […]
News
Letter to the PM
In an open letter Robin Guenier, former CEO of the Government’s Central Computing and Telecommunications Agency, urges the new Prime Minister to take action on the NHS IT programme.
Feature
OGC accused of shredding Gateway review reports
The Office of Government Commerce has reportedly ordered civil servants to destroy copies of Gateway review reports into government computer upgrades, to prevent information on delayed projects being leaked or disclosed under Freedom of Information legislation. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Gateway Process examines government programmes and projects at key decision points in their […]
News
Online service launched for antenatal screening
A new web-based antenatal screening service has been launched to supplement screening available on the NHS. Genio, which offers antenatal screening for a wide range of conditions, was launched this month by Capex Health Services. Its directors believe that it is the first online service of its kind in the UK, but stress that they […]
News
Brown plays a safe hand with electronic scripts
The chancellor Gordon Brown has called for more electronic prescriptions to be issued in the NHS, as part of his campaign to be the next leader of the Labour Party. Brown, the favourite to win the leadership contest, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday that there needed to be “more electronic prescriptions so […]
News
The productivity guessing game
Introducing new IT systems should improve productivity – but how will the NHS know? Healthcare commentator, Roy Lilley, doubts whether current efforts to measure improvements will win any medals.
Feature
Treasury plans £6.8bn NHS savings through IT
Today’s Gershon report, “Releasing resources to the front line: Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency", has said that IT reform is critical to the NHS achieving its target of saving of £6.8bn by 2008. The report was published on the same day that Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the Treasury’s 2004 spending review in Parliament, which […]
News
Budget 2003:Chancellor Stands By Spending Plans
Chancellor Gordon Brown this week reaffirmed public spending plans due to deliver 7.2% growth in NHS spending over the next five years, including unprecedented investment in healthcare IT. Delivering the 2003 Budget, he told the Commons, “We have not been, and will not be, diverted from increasing investment on our health and public services at […]
News
Carry On Spending and Modernising, Says Brown
Chancellor Gordon Brown has ordered the NHS to carry on with plans for extra spending and modernisation despite shortfalls in national revenues which have forced up borrowing. The Financial Times reported that borrowing would have to rise by £20bn – almost twice the figure forecast back in April – to enable the government to stick […]
News