Leaked report criticises NPfIT implementation
A leaked report by the National Programme for IT’s former chief clinical adviser has exposed fault lines at the highest levels of the leadership of the national programme and serious disagreements about the way the programme is being implemented and its lack of engagement with clinicians. According to a report in today’s Financial Times, in […]
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Hutton resigns as chair of clinical advisory board
Professor Peter Hutton has resigned his position as chair of the National Clinical Advisory Board of the National Programme for IT (NCAB), the key body for ensuring clinician involvement in the development of the NHS IT modernisation project. In a 21 April email to members of NCAB Professor Hutton said: “…I have offered my resignation […]
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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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GP choice in IT systems debated
A senior officer from the National Programme for IT said he would have failed and the programme would have failed if a GP was asked to move to an inferior IT system. Duncan McNeil, director of the Design Authority, made his statement at Healthcare Computing 2004 as the last word in a question and answer […]
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Statutory registration in prospect for health informatics
Statutory registration of healthcare informatics staff in four years is the target for a new voluntary regulator launched this week. Meanwhile the UK Council of Health Informatics Professions (UKCHIP) intends to build its register and encourage employers to ask for registered staff when they advertise jobs and draw up job descriptions. UKCHIP president, Dr Glyn Hayes, […]
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FDBE aims to cut drug dosing errors
First DataBank Europe (FDBE) has announced that it is working with the National Patient Safety Agency on a project to improve the safety of patients on drugs requiring unusual dosage regimes. The NPSA, established as a Special Health Authority in July 2001, aims to improve the safety of patients taking oral methotrexate by incorporating new, […]
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Dawn of globalisation in health IT, Granger tells HIMSS
ORLANDO, Florida – The NHS National Programme for Information Technology is drawing interest on both sides of the Atlantic, a phenomenon that Director General of NHS IT Richard Granger calls the dawning of globalisation in health IT, writes Neil Versel. “This is the first time someone else has done something that sits on scale with […]
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New report sets out need for e-prescribing
A new report from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer on the causes of medicines safety has spelt out the critical role that electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems can play in reducing medication errors. ‘Building a Safer NHS for Patients: Improving Medication Safety’ describes standards of prescribing in the NHS as high. However, it stresses mistakes can arise […]
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EMIS dispute heats up
The dispute between EMIS and the National Programme for IT became increasingly heated this week with the EMIS National User Group encouraging members to write to their MP to express their concerns about the National Programme; and NHS IT Director General Richard Granger appearing to criticise EMIS’s systems. With almost 60% of GPs using EMIS […]
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E-prescribing gets underway at Countess of Chester
A successful pilot for FileTek UK’s Meditech electronic prescribing (EP) system at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire, has opened the way for a full 12 -18 month roll-out of the system starting in early 2004. FileTek says that the system provides total integration between pharmacy stock system and the other patient-based Meditech modules, […]
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