GPC says key questions unresolved on Choose and Book
The General Practitioner Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association has written to GPs advising them that it has serious concerns about Choose and Book, the national electronic appointment booking service, relating to the confidentiality and security of patient information and workload and resource implications of the new system. In a cautionary guidance note issued […]
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Vision users told they cannot be forced to switch
The National Vision User Group (NVUG), the independent body that represents users of InPractice Systems Vision primary care system has written to all Vision users to emphasise that there is no basis for anyone to force practices to switch away from using the Vision system. Published by the NVUG after a national meeting in early […]
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Over 5,000 GP practices now ready for QMAS
The Department of Health have announced that over 5,000 out of the 9,000 GP practices in England are now able to use the Quality Management and Analysis System (QMAS), the web-based feedback system that automatically uploads practice activity data for GPs to be paid and monitored under the new General Medical Services contract. QMAS was […]
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Joint guidance issued on GP system choice
Definitive guidance on the issue of choice of practice systems has been issued which makes it plain that practices should not be forced to switch to a new system until "a clearly better alternative" is available together with a proven route to migration. The new guidance has been jointly produced by the joint IT committee of the […]
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EMIS dispute heats up
The dispute between EMIS and the National Programme for IT became increasingly heated this week with the EMIS National User Group encouraging members to write to their MP to express their concerns about the National Programme; and NHS IT Director General Richard Granger appearing to criticise EMIS’s systems. With almost 60% of GPs using EMIS […]
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Missing IT Funds Threaten GP Contract
One of the BMA’s leaders on IT issues has warned that the new GP contract is at risk unless the Department of Health honours its pledge to provide funding to reimburse practice IT maintenance and upgrade costs as specified under the terms of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract. Improved primary care IT systems […]
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Open Source: PCTs Must Continue to Offer Choice of Systems
In the new slot for opinion and comment Dr Nilesh Jain of Torex Health takes up the question of GPs retaining choice over their IT now that PCTs pay for the systems. The new General Medical Services contract will lead to a revolutionary change in primary care computing. Effective IT is needed to underpin the […]
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GPC Chair Pledges Practices Will Retain Choice
Dr John Chisolm, chairman of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) General Practitioners Committee (GPC) has pledged to fight to defend practices’ right to choose which practice systems they use. With just days to go before the closure of the ballot on the new UK-wide GP contract this Friday Dr Chisholm told delegates at the British […]
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