Archived News: April 2009

The RCN is seeking advice re it's website on tele-health and tele-care - take part in the survey ( ICN Teleworking Network unveiled too ) plus other RCN consultations

Audit Commission warns that data quality is still too poor - read the report Figures you can trust - Briefing on data quality in the NHS

The GMC is asking for input into it's Consultation on new draft guidance for doctors - End of life treatment and care: Good practice in decision-making

NMC/Regulatory Update for April: Database mooted for healthcare professionals and see GPs to be revalidated online (Maybe the future for nurses too - see Improvements to the regulation of healthcare professionals) Remind yourself about current NMC Revalidation information

Did you know there are NMC Code Champions right across the UK countries?
Did you know there is draft NMC guidance for nursing and midwifery students?

HPC Update: April Newsletter HPC in Focus

Live in Wales? Confidence Boost for NHS Wales Staff Completing IT Training - read more on your own eNWI page

Live in Scotland? Scottish cancer centres lead on high-tech radiotherapy See more Scottish news on your own Scotland Page

Live in Northern Ireland? Health Minister praises role of regional crisis helpline See this and more news on your own Northern Ireland page

Live in England? CfH on the brink of new deals with CSC and BT - read more news below or look on your own area page

Don't miss the Newsfeed for even more up to date news which is constantly fed in!

Publications and web sites of interest this month: The Database State a Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report (see relevant articles from this month:NHS Camden rapped by ICO and Work stops again on ContactPoint and Hospitals breaking DPA every day plus NI GPs report survey concerns)- essential reading; Figures you can trust - Briefing on data quality in the NHS ; Predicting risk of type 2 diabetes in England and Wales: prospective derivation and validation of QDScore ; DLF relaunches its award-winning online guided advice tool, AskSARA. Then there's the new Social Partnership Forum website

e-records this month:

Internatonal: International healthcare IT standards groups sign agreement ; 69 percent of physicians say speech recognition makes EHRs faster and easier to use ; New York opens-up records with Microsoft

England:The Database State; Rotherham picks Meditech for EPR ; PACS group demands action on NHS Number ; NHS Camden rapped by ICO; College highlights poor PACS image sharing ; Personal appearance dropped for SCR opt-out ; Hospitals breaking DPA every day ; Summary care record is indelible ;

Interested in patient/client involvement? Patient involvement crucial for controlling healthcare costs and improving standards of care ; Improvement science meets community development:approaching health inequalities through community engagement

Interested in recording PROMs? (Patient Reported Outcomes?) Have a look at routine health outcomes

Involved in mental health care in England? DH seeks views on new mental health strategy - A new vision for mental health and wellbeing

Work in Primary Care? NICE to take charge of QoF (" the Royal College of Nursing asked the DH to address what was described as high levels of exception reporting and the potential for “gaming” by GP practices") and then QoF to become GQ and Team of GPs to review QoF indicators whilst Patients to rate GPs’ appearance online . GP practices urged to share IT experiences and Better information; better healthcare NHS Alliance and Cegedim Dendrite launch PBC information project

Ambulance Trusts offered new choice in emergency call handling in England

Information prescriptions expanded

Work with children? Work stops again on ContactPoint

Virtual Academy for Health Launched - every two weeks a new online discussion with experts on the European healthcare issues that foster the use of ICT for learning, exchange, and collaboration in the healthcare sector is launched