GPSoC-R: the doctor might email you now

The NHS National Programme for IT was by no means a complete failure. Parts of it, such as NHSmail, did so well that they are currently being renewed with new contracts, bells and whistles. The same is true of one of the less-known contracts, GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC), which expires this year – and its new version GPSoC-R (which stands for replacement) looks likely to support big changes in the way that patients and GPs communicate. Continue reading “GPSoC-R: the doctor might email you now”

The NHS in 2013: a reorg, Sir David Nicholson & CCGs – for £5.69 a day

On 5 July 2013, the NHS will reach Britain’s current male pension age of 65. But far from retiring, the health service will be undergoing surgery – at least in England, although there are also changes afoot in Scotland and Wales. Here are some pointers for the NHS in 2013. Continue reading “The NHS in 2013: a reorg, Sir David Nicholson & CCGs – for £5.69 a day”

Child Protection Information System could work, but it won’t be easy

Yesterday saw The Times reporting plans for a new Child Protection Information System, which aims to link up and log data on all children’s visits to A&E or an out of hours (OOH) GP with social services’ at-risk registers. (Log-in required, both for the Times story, and hopefully for the new system as well.) The Department of Health confirmed the story, which has also been followed up by the GuardianBBC, Telegraph, Sun, Independent and EHI (via my NHS news and comment feed @ImpatientNHS). Continue reading “Child Protection Information System could work, but it won’t be easy”

Impatient for NHS news and comment? Follow @impatientnhs

There is no good single source of NHS news. National news organisations generally cover the national politics and issues. Local newspapers are often the best source of information on the NHS trusts or boards in their areas, and the same is true of specialist titles on specific subjects. There are also some great NHS bloggers. But you have to work hard to watch them all. Continue reading “Impatient for NHS news and comment? Follow @impatientnhs”