Blair Pledges NHS Broadband Access
Tony Blair has pledged £6bn of public money to deliver high-speed internet access to every school and doctor’s surgery by 2006, as part of a ’21st century revolution’ in the delivery of public services. Speaking at a government conference to discuss its delivery of e-commerce and e-government initiatives, the Prime Minister said £1bn of investment […]
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Why Are GP Practices More Computerised Than Hospitals?
Scalability and incentives are suggested as the two key factors that explain why British GPs are far more likely to use a computer in the consulting room than their hospital-based colleagues. In a pair of papers published in the British Medical Journal, managing consultant, Tim Benson, reviews the development of computer systems in British healthcare. […]
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Patient Communication Systems Launched
Bedside entertainment and communications systems for hospital patients have been officially launched at Kingston Hospitals NHS Trust. The wall-mounted patient terminals have been installed by private firm Patientline. The terminals will enable patients to use the web and email from their hospital beds, watch digital TV, listen to radio, as well as make and receive […]
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Gateway Review Recommends ICRS be put on Hold
The latest Office of Government Commerce (OGC) review of the business case for Integrated Care Records Service (ICRS), the central component of the National NHS IT Programme, is reported to have recommended that the project be put on hold. E-Health Insider understands from industry sources that the latest OGC Gateway Review, Gate One, identified major […]
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IT Procurement Strategy Promised By December
The government plans to publish the full version of its procurement strategy for the NHS IT programme by December 2002, according to answers given to parliamentary questions by health minister Hazel Blears. The latest details of the procurement strategy behind the NHS IT programme were published in answers provided by Ms Blears, in response to […]
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Patients Want to Interact with Doctors Online
A survey of European internet users found that 50% said they want to be able to email their doctor, schedule appointments online and receive prescriptions by email. The survey found that consumers want online services that make communication with their doctor faster and more convenient, such as the facility to schedule appointments online Some 45% […]
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All-Wales Approach Proposed for Electronic Records
The long-awaited strategy for health information in Wales proposes a corporate, all-Wales approach to the development of electronic records and other information services. “Informing Healthcare” the consultative strategy paper published by the Welsh Assembly Government, says, “The known weaknesses of ‘centralisation’ will be overcome by a clear commitment that corporate resources are accountable directly to […]
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Data Grid Announced for UK Mammography Research
IBM, Oxford University and the U.K. government have announced plans to build a distributed computing network, or next generation ‘data grid’, to share and store mammograms among health care providers and researchers The aim is to enable early screening and diagnosis of breast cancer, and to allow medical professionals to collaborate and share information that […]
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Combined Government Gateway Review Due for IT Programme
The National NHS IT Programme is scheduled to be submitted to a combined Government Gateway review by the end of October, with a full business case then due to be submitted to Treasury for approval by November. The latest version of the timetable for the National IT Programme was detailed by Jeremy Thorp, the NHS […]
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Planning Blight Accusation For IT Programme
Over 300 IT suppliers and would-be suppliers to the NHS packed the QE2 Conference Centre in London last week for an update on the National IT Programme – but they found hard news of progress thin on the ground. BBC science correspondent, Fergus Walsh, who chaired the event, conveyed the opinion of a participant who […]
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