Further role for NHS Choices in DES guidance
Patients will be able to check whether their GP practice meets national data accreditation standards via NHS Choices, according to NHS Connecting for Health. The IT agency has released new guidance on the IM&T directed enhanced service (DES), which reveals plans to publish practices’ data accreditation status. The guidance states that data accreditation activity logged […]
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NHS work boosts Atos Origin
International IT services company Atos Origin has reported strong UK financial results for the first six months of the year, partly boosted by NHS work. The company, which is responsible for the Choose and Book electronic appointment system, reported revenues up to £376m for the first half of the year. In England, Atos Origin has […]
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Patient Opinion mashes up NHS Choices
Patient Opinion has announced a “mash-up” with NHS Choices comments released onto a Cabinet Office website to promote new uses of government information. The independent website, which was founded by a Sheffield GP and is funded by subscriptions from trusts, regulators and others, has taken an NHS Choices data feed from a site run by […]
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NHS Choices launches maternity guide
The first NHS online maternity guide has been launched by the Department of Health aiming to offer mothers and fathers-to-be information on pregnancy and birth. The new ‘Pregnancy Care Planner’ has been published on the NHS Choices website, and contains the latest comprehensive advice on all aspects of pregnancy, from getting pregnant, early pregnancy, the […]
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RCGP says good GPs have great websites
The ‘exemplary GP’ has a clear and accurate practice website and seeks patient’s consent before giving sensitive information to other healthcare professionals, according to the latest guidance on good medical practice for GPs. The Royal College of General Practitioners and the BMA’s General Practitioner Committee have updated their guidance Good Medical Practice for General Practitioners […]
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NICE to overhaul QoF
The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) is to be overhauled to focus on indicators which have the greatest impact on health and are proven to be cost-effective, according to Lord Darzi. The health minister and author of the government’s NHS Next Stage Review told Parliament’s Health Committee that the National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness (NICE) […]
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60 Second Interview: Matthew Swindells
Joe Fernandez talks to Matthew Swindells, former interim chief information officer for the DH, and now a managing director of health at consultancy Tribal.
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NHS Choices selects Capita as preferred bidder
Capita has been announced as the preferred bidder to deliver NHS Choices for the next three years.
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New website lets patients rate doctors
Dr Neil Bacon founder of www.iWantGreatCare.org A website has been launched that allows patients to rate individual GPs and hospital doctors and share information about their healthcare experiences. Visitors to the website, can rate their doctor using sliding scales for three questions: ‘Do you trust this doctor? Does this doctor listen? Would you recommend this […]
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HealthSpace set for big expansion
HealthSpace, the government’s secure online site for patients, is to be expanded to include shared records and GP appointment booking, according to the Health Informatics Review. The review, published last week, outlines a much wider role for HealthSpace and says its consultation highlighted strong support for the HealthSpace initiative. In future HealthSpace will be accessed […]
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