GPs urge rethink on Choose and Book
Primary care trusts (PCTs) will fail to persuade GPs to use Choose and Book unless the system is overhauled, according to GP representatives. In the meantime, PCTs look likely to direct most of the work via Booking Management Services (BMS) with only GP enthusiasts booking appointments themselves. Dr Paul Cundy, chair of the BMA’s General […]
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MHRA to let patients report side-effects online
The DH have implemented changes to the way that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are reported and publicised, including allowing patients to report reactions by submitting electronically through a new website and making drug reaction data available online. The new forms, which are being set up at www.yellowcard.gov.uk, will allow medication users to report any ADRs they encounter, as part […]
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Brent goes live with Graphnet drug action team solution
Brent Primary Care Trust, north west London, has gone live with a new system developed by Graphnet to enable drug action teams (DATs) to meet reporting targets. DATs, across the UK are responsible for drug strategies for adults and they have report to the National Treatment Agency to obtain funding. The new system, developed by […]
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Vision users told they cannot be forced to switch
The National Vision User Group (NVUG), the independent body that represents users of InPractice Systems Vision primary care system has written to all Vision users to emphasise that there is no basis for anyone to force practices to switch away from using the Vision system. Published by the NVUG after a national meeting in early […]
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MRSA reporting to be improved by electronic lab link
Long-standing data quality problems with recorded occurrences of MRSA may be improved by the introduction of electronic incident reporting systems in laboratories, rather than focusing on trying to improve the current paper-based incident reporting that relies on the postal system, E-Health Insider has learned. Mandatory reporting is already undertaken by trusts, which send aggregated details of incidents to […]
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WAP can be used for reporting symptoms, study finds
Italian researchers have shown that aftercare and patient communication might be improved if patients are asked to fill in daily questionnaires using WAP on their mobile phones. The research, published in BioMed Central’s journal, found that a Wireless Health Outcomes Monitoring System (WHOMS) greatly increased the flow of information between cancer patients at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan and […]
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NPSA introduces intelligent incident analysis system
The National Patient Safety Agency has awarded the contract for its new analysis and content management to the Cambridge-based software company, Autonomy. The software, also called Autonomy, is integrated into the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). It uses an ‘intelligent data operating layer’ to filter different kinds of media such as text, audio and video […]
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IT skills training saves staff time, survey reveals
The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is dramatically improving computer literacy in the NHS and saving staff time, a survey published by the NHSIA has revealed. 100% of users who described their skills as ‘basic’ or ‘very basic’ reported they felt much more confident with computers after taking the course. 48% of those users said […]
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EMIS predicts signing deals with three LSPs
Primary care systems supplier EMIS has said that is confident that EMIS products and services will be available “working via LSPs alongside the NPfIT” in at least three of the five clusters of the national programme. The company has issued no details of the nature of the agreements it expects to reach with the three […]
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IDX predicts $1 billion revenues from LSP contracts
IDX Corporation has revealed that it expects to see revenues of $1 billion (£525 million) over ten years from its role as the principal clinical systems and related services provider for the London and South of England Local Service Provider contracts. The company has also briefed US analysts that while the contracts contain milestone […]
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