Questions in the House About DG Role
Mark Todd, Labour MP and a former IT director, has told E-Health Insider that he believes the current management structure for the National Programme for IT in the NHS "appears rather cloudy" and "is not the optimum arrangement". He says greater clarity over lines of accountability and leadership may be needed. The former head of […]
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High Demand for Tablets Predicted in Health
Last week saw the international launch of Microsoft’s Tablet PC software and a series of tablet and slate-style devices by leading hardware manufacturers. Microsoft has high hopes for the Tablet PC, arguing that it will transform the way we work, collaborate and use computers. Microsoft’s public sector industry manager Jenny Duff told E-Health Insider that […]
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Gateway Review Recommends ICRS be put on Hold
The latest Office of Government Commerce (OGC) review of the business case for Integrated Care Records Service (ICRS), the central component of the National NHS IT Programme, is reported to have recommended that the project be put on hold. E-Health Insider understands from industry sources that the latest OGC Gateway Review, Gate One, identified major […]
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IT Procurement Strategy Promised By December
The government plans to publish the full version of its procurement strategy for the NHS IT programme by December 2002, according to answers given to parliamentary questions by health minister Hazel Blears. The latest details of the procurement strategy behind the NHS IT programme were published in answers provided by Ms Blears, in response to […]
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Combined Government Gateway Review Due for IT Programme
The National NHS IT Programme is scheduled to be submitted to a combined Government Gateway review by the end of October, with a full business case then due to be submitted to Treasury for approval by November. The latest version of the timetable for the National IT Programme was detailed by Jeremy Thorp, the NHS […]
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Green Light for New Shared Services Authority
The NHS Shared Services Initiative, which is responsible for shared NHS financial services, the finance and e-commerce project and the development of the electronic staff record, has received approval to establish itself as a special health authority. The new authority will come into being in April 2003. The announcement about the change of status says […]
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Advice Paves the Way for National Clinical Audit
Advice is published this week on the National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP) which will eventually yield comparative data on the performance of clinical services and on individual practitioners. The programme forms part of the government’s response to the Kennedy Report on child heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1984 and 95. Kennedy […]
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Hospital Appointment Alerts Software Under Development
Cd U cm 2 St Swithins nxt wk? A future in which patients could be alerted to changes in hospital appointments via text messages and other popular form of electronic communication was outlined this week by chief executive of the Office of e-Envoy’s e-delivery team (EDT), Alan Mather. Speaking to Computing magazine, Mr Mather, whose […]
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Suppliers Told Details of IT Strategy Imminent
A unique meeting held in London last week saw over 200 leading NHS IT suppliers, and would be suppliers, gather to hear details of how the NHS plans to deliver the new NHS IT strategy. Many left with more questions than when they arrived. Describing the objective Sir John Pattison, DH Director of research, analysis […]
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Home Office to Consult on Smart ID Cards
The Home Office is to publish proposals to introduce identity cards in the UK, based on smart card technology, with Home Secretary David Blunkett expected to announce a six month public consultation on the proposals. Introducing national ID cards was floated by the Home Office in the aftermath of September 11 as a potential guard […]
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