Software for Scottish minor ailments service launched
Software to support the first phase of Scotland’s e-pharmacy plans has begun to be used by a pharmacy to run its minor ailments service. Cegedim Rx is the first of the pharmacy system suppliers to release electronic minor ailments service (e-MAS) software which it is planned will eventually be used by all pharmacies across Scotland. […]
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N3 problems may hinder PACS use
Problems with the new NHS broadband links, known as N3, have left some NHS hospitals with computer connections speeds too slow for them to effectively use planned new Picture Archiving and Communications Services (PACS). While BT, the contractor for N3, has delivered over 7,000 NHS connections at the speeds required – GP practices are […]
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Choose and Book adopters to get tech support
The Department of Health is set to launch a high level technical help scheme to support local Choose and Book implementation after lessons from the early adopters showed IT support is vital to success. Jane Cummings, national implementation director, told a conference organised by HSJ this week: “Lots of the issues in the early adopter […]
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Choose and Book set to miss 2005 targets
The government’s targets for the implementation of Choose and Book this year look almost certain to be missed, despite being one of the health department’s key priorities. Continuing problems with clinical engagement and delays in implementing fully integrated Choose and Book systems are two of the key issues holding back roll-out of the system according […]
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Pharmacists advised not to sign ETP agreements
Pharmacists are being advised not to sign agreements for electronic transmission of prescription (ETP) enabled systems until guidance on compliance status is issued by NHS Connecting for Health. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has released a statement advising pharmacists not to commit to anything yet. It is understand that some suppliers are offering to […]
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N3 hits 6,000 installations milestone
More than 6000 GP surgeries are now connected to the NHS broadband, N3, NHS Connecting for Health has claimed; however, installation has not been without problems. In a written statement, an NHS CfH spokesman said: "As at 31 March 2005, there were 6036 commissioned sites which were supporting live traffic on that date. In addition, […]
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Cabinet Office denies Watmore to take helm at NPfIT
The Cabinet Office and National Programme for IT have moved swiftly today to deny suggestions that Ian Watmore, the Government’s first Chief Information Officer, is poised to take the helm at the NHS IT modernisation project. The prediction that Watmore was about to take a greater hand in steering the NPfIT was made in this […]
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Criticism unhealthy for NPfIT, says Granger
The director general of NHS IT, Richard Granger, has spoken out against critics of the National Programme for IT, saying that many charges are just “plain wrong” and that a “toxic environment" is in danger of developing. “If we are not very careful”, said Granger in an interview with the Financial Times, “fewer people will […]
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NHS seeks £4.5m from BT over broadband delays
The National Programme for IT in the NHS is claiming up to £4.5m in compensation from BT for late delivery in providing the high speed broadband connections vital to providing new services under the £6.2 billion NHS IT modernisation programme. According to a report in today’s Financial Times, BT and the NHS say they are […]
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NPfIT puts availability statistics online
The National Programme for IT have started to publish uptime statistics on their website for the data spine, N3 and Choose and Book, as well as the local North-East cluster’s SAP service, as provided by Accenture. Monthly and weekly uptime statistics are available, stretching back to September for the national services and November for the […]
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