Combative Granger defends speed of IT reform
Richard Granger, Director General of NHS IT, has hit back at critics of his approach to implementing the national programme, saying that patient safety and the fast pace of technology continue to be the main drivers for driving change. Speaking yesterday at the Government Computing Exhibition and Conference 2004, Earls Court, Granger emphasised the benefits […]
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National programme caught in spinal trap
With less than four weeks to go to the first scheduled release from the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), highly credible industry sources suggest that the 27 June deadline for P1R1 (phase one release one) of the programme may be missed or only partially met. P1R1 covers the patient demographic service to be made available […]
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Health insurance smart card scheme starts in EU
European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are being formally introduced today in 13 EU countries, including Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Estonia and Slovenia. The cards, which will eventually replace paper-based reciprocal health agreement forms such as the E111 and E128, contain a chip holding information that allows connection to a Health Insurance Data Server based in the […]
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Doubts raised over first NPfIT delivery deadlines
The leak of a confidential BT document, highlighting “material contractual issues", has raised concerns that the first June delivery dates of the National Programme for IT may prove extremely challenging to meet. Phase one, release one of the national programme, which largely focuses on the first phase of the Data Spine and introduction of electronic […]
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Armed forces march towards electronic health records
The MoD has announced the next stage of plans to introduce an electronic medical records system that will link to the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) in the next six years. Two suppliers, LogicaCMG and IBM have been short-listed for a £1m contract, due to be awarded in early 2005, to prove their systems. […]
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NPfIT to review approach to stakeholder engagement
The NHS National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT) has announced a review of its formal arrangements for engaging the NHS, patients and other stakeholders, in order to support the effective implementation of the NPfIT. As part of this new approach the national programme is to create a new Front Line Support Academy to help NHS […]
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Basildon and Thurrock notches up wireless “first”
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust has become the first NHS Trust to implement a fully wireless-enabled network. Staff at the trust will now be able to roam wirelessly and access critical information at the point of care, meeting patient needs faster and reducing errors. Administration staff and management will also be able to access files and […]
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Lothian upgrades Wise radiology solution
Lothian University Hospitals Trust is to upgrade its Radwise radiology information system (RIS) to a new web-based system with greatly enhanced functionality. The trust will be the first in Scotland to order this type of RIS from Wise Healthcare Systems’ Virtual Radiology solutions. Wise will be implementing the new Radwise 5 system and providing training […]
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Health Language to help NPfIT avoid ‘Tower of Babel’
The National Programme for IT (NPfIT) has signed a deal with Health Language Inc., to provide its Language Engine (LE) technology, to help deliver enterprise-wide clinical terminology services. Under the deal Health Language will provide its LE technology to be used throughout the national programme, including the National Application Service Provider (NASP), delivering the national […]
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US health IT leaders to rule on key standards
Health IT thought leaders in the US have taken a significant step toward advancing electronic connectivity and are on the verge of another, Neil Versel reports from Chicago. Last week, the healthcare informatics committee of standards-setting organisation ASTM International approved a minimum set of patient data to ensure continuity when patients move between care settings. […]
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