Summary care records planned for end of 2008
Connecting for Health is planning for every patient in England to have a complete Summary Care Record by the end of 2008. Guidance prepared by CfH for strategic health authorities makes it clear that the Clinical Summary Record will be implemented in two phases. Phase one, due to begin by Easter, will consist of an […]
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Premium-rate doctor helpline aimed at busy people
A premium rate telephone service has been set up that allows callers to talk directly to a doctor 24 hours a day without having to speak with receptionists or waiting for a call back. Talk to a Doctor is accessible either through a 24hr 0900 number, or through a freephone number and a £29.95 credit […]
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Freeview plans for NHS Direct
NHS Direct is planning to make its interactive digital TV service available via Freeview. The health information service, which recorded its busiest ever month in May, is in negotiations to expand its digital TV service, which is currently only available on Sky, to cover Freeview as well. The health helpline predicts that it gets around […]
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Scots ahead
Fiona Barr looks at how electronic summaries of GP records are already in operation in Scotland, accessible by out of hours providers and with A&E departments soon to be added.
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NHS 24 cuts numbers of ‘call-backs’
Scotland’s health advice helpline NHS 24 has reduced the percentage of ‘call-backs’ to patients to less than 20% from a high of more than 50%, tackling a key area identified by an independent review of the service last year. The health advice and information service says figures for January show that ‘call backs’ to patients, […]
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Traffic doubles on new NHS24 website
The Scottish health helpline NHS24 has set up a new-look website with health advice and doubled the number of hits compared with its old site immediately. NHS24.com was launched two days before Christmas with new content, including a health encyclopaedia and self-help guide, created by NHS Direct but tailored for Scottish users and the Scottish […]
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Txts 2 help U quit
Text messages, e-mail and telephone support are to be made available from the NHS to help smokers quit. The new digital approach to ditching nicotine was unveiled today by public health minister, Caroline Flint. The Department of Health says the new ‘Together’ programme expands the current NHS stop smoking services to those people who may not want to quit […]
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NHS 24 report calls for radical review of helpline
A radical review of Scotland’s health helpline NHS 24 has recommended using the new volume predictive technology to ensure the best possible match of supply to demand as one of a raft of measures to improve the troubled service. The report – which is highly critical of NHS 24’s board – also says that more […]
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PCT’s e-mail error leaks patient details
A full investigation is underway into an e-mail error that led to confidential information about 92 patients being distributed from a primary care trust to 35 local organisations. The details were circulated accidentally by Melton, Rutland and Harborough PCT in the East Midlands to organisations that routinely receive information about trust board meetings. These include […]
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NHS Direct may lack capacity to handle OOH calls
NHS Direct may have insufficient capacity to manage out of hours (OOH) care in the integrated fashion envisaged by the government, researchers have concluded. In 2000, a review of OOH care recommended integrating calls made to general practitioners outside surgery hours with NHS Direct. The idea was that patients’ calls would be routed directly to […]
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