Of course we would welcome this.  But… caveats below.

Jeremy Hunt’s announcement to make £260m available ‘to improve patient safety’ through technology solutions like ePrescribing does show  government is serious in delivering policy commitments from the Power of Information published last year and subsequent announcements.

We identified ePrescribing and accessing and capturing information at the point of care as digital health solutions the NHS should focus on in our ‘Digitising the NHS by 2018‘ report from March this year.   But we do want to emphasise that ePrescribing is part of a wider Medicines Management Strategy and needs to be aligned with Trusts EPR strategies – simply bolting on ePrescribing with barcode patient identification is the tip of the iceberg and will not fulfil the highlighted patient safety and financial benefits unless considered as part of the wider Medicines Management and EPR strategies.

No point debating whether £260m is enough money – not for what we ultimately want to achieve across the health system, but it can kick start and  help provide the stimulus needed to get us going.  Interestingly though, will ongoing procurements be able to tap into fund or is it for new projects only?  And is this fund separate from the £140m set aside for nurses in reducing paperwork and using technology (which we have heard very little about since announcement)?

Whatever the answer to the above questions, to ensure the £260m fund has the maximum impact we recommend any NHS trust thinking of applying to:

1. Understand what you want the outcomes of the solution(s) to be – not just what the solution should be – and how it fits with wider strategy and operations and is supported by users.
2. Properly look at what the market has to offer to meet your requirements and desired outcomes – share your ambitions and get honest answers back and start developing partnerships.
3. Ensure the solution integrates with other systems and joins up information – no more siloed systems that stand in the way of joined up information and care delivery.

Though we wait to find out more on the details of the fund, we recommend the Department of Health and NHS England not to be too prescriptive and rigid in awarding the funds to trusts.  Individual NHS organisations are best placed to identify the needs they have and what outcomes they want. Trusts need to demonstrate a good understanding of how their proposed solution will address their problem and deliver outcomes that improve patient care and safety, and efficiency.  The role of the centre is to promote common standards and provide support for trusts to meet their goals.

We’ll provide clarity and insight once we know more and people figure out who’s responsible for what.  Commentators are already seeing different views being taken by DH and NHS England.

Technorati Tags: Department of Health, digital health, EPR, ePrescribing, health IT, intellect, NHS England, NHS IT, Tech UK

A colleague of mine recently had to see a GP to have her knee checked.  She called the GP, got lucky, there was a slot free next week.  I would be more convenient and cheaper if she could just book it online. What happened next however should not happen in 2013, not as a default at least.

At the GP practice she underwent a paper based consultation. The GP filled out a piece of paper that he would post to the Physiotherapists. The Physiotherapists would then review and post a letter to my colleague to set up an appointment. When she asked what the likely timescale would be, the GP looked at her and smiled. He didn’t know.

This fairly straightforward transactional process is dealt with online, in seconds, in the rest of our country today. In the NHS it can take months. Is that not odd?  If you think about it, the NHS deals with over 1 million patients every 36 hours, over 250 million interactions a year. Is a paper and postage system that can take months the most effective way of providing care today? (more…)

Technorati Tags: digital health, health IT, Information Revolution, intellect, NHS England, NHS IT, paperless nhs, Power of Information

On 3 December, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP announced that Government would forge a Cyber Growth Partnership with Intellect. The main aim of this partnership will be to identify the best means to support the growth of the UK cyber security industry, both domestically and across the globe. The Cyber Growth Partnership was initiated with an understanding that coordinated action is required to ensure that the UK not only has adequate capability to protect itself, but also to maximise its share of this growing sector worldwide.

The Government’s commitment to the Cyber Growth Partnership demonstrates a belief in the value of the cyber security market and is indicative of a wider willingness in Government to play a collaborative strategic role in economic growth. The September 2012 BIS Economics Paper No.18, Industrial Strategy: UK Sector Analysis establishes a strategic sector-based approach to achieving growth in those sectors with both short and long-term growth potential for the UK. This is not indicative of a move toward a planned economy ‘with British characteristics’. Rather, the Industrial Strategy aims to recognise the power of Government both as a central customer and as a shaper of the regulatory environment and examine how this position can be leveraged intelligently to achieve long-term growth for the UK. In the context of technology, this could involve nurturing nascent innovative technology start-ups, facilitating a bridge from academic research to commercial application, and ensuring the domestic skill base exists to support this. To coordinate joint activity, a range of sector specific Government-industry councils are expected to be formed.

The Automotive Council provides one model for these sector councils. Established in December 2009 upon the recommendation of the industry-led New Automotive Innovation and Growth team, the Automotive Council aims to create a favourable business environment, develop technology roadmaps, improve the supply chain, give a voice to UK industry, and ensure continuous strategic dialogue between Government and the automotive industry. The council is chaired by Government with industry representation at the most senior level. The Automotive Council has been held up as a success, with an increase in production in the UK automotive industry of 9% in 2012 and exports and volumes at their highest level since 2008.

The success of the Automotive Council demonstrates the value of collaborative joint Government-industry action. The Government-Intellect Cyber Growth Partnership will have a narrower focus and, though its model may differ somewhat from that of the Automotive Council, the driving principle is the same, public-private collaboration has a role to play in maximizing growth. As the Cyber Growth Partnership matures we look forward to providing you, the membership, with more detail on how your company can engage and the action the partnership has taken to help achieve growth for cyber security companies in the UK.

Technorati Tags: BIS, Cyber Security Growth Partnership, Industrial Strategy, intellect

The BIS-Intellect Cyber Security Showcase runs from 26 November to 5 December at BIS’s office on One Great Victoria Street. The aim of the showcase is to recognise the value of industry-Government cyber partnerships and highlight the UK’s cyber security offering. The showcase, which includes demonstrations from our members, coincides with the first anniversary of Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy. Intellect recently ran an event to mark this anniversary – a talk by Rhys Bowen, Deputy Director of the Cabinet Office’s Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance, where he gave members a sense of what HMG has achieved with this strategy so far and how it hopes to proceed in meeting its objectives. Broadly, Government has focused its cyber security activities on building internal capability, raising awareness, and developing the skills base. The focus for next year will be to continue building awareness and implementing changes to the education system in order to augment the nation’s cyber skills.

Throughout 2012, Intellect has played a complementary role which reflects the necessity of having public-private sector partnerships on cyber security – an emphasis of both the National Cyber Security Strategy and Intellect’s 2010 cyber partnerships report. Intellect has also continued the development of industry focused and delivered initiatives designed to increase the sharing of threat information between companies to improve the integrity of supply chains. In addition to Intellect’s initiatives, there is a wide range of activity being undertaken by other industry groupings and not-for-profit organisations reflecting the broad relevance of cyber. Despite this rising level of activity and increasing media attention, understanding of cyber remains in its nascence. This is not to say, however, that awareness raising initiatives have failed – rather, a lot of work still needs to be done.

Intellect is working to increase industry’s understanding of cyber risks. We have recently launched a cyber awareness survey, the results of which will be used to inform a study outlining the ICT industry’s awareness and understanding of cyber risks. We hope that this survey will be representative of our members. As such, please consider completing this survey, which is available here, using the password ‘Awareness’.

In 2013, Intellect will continue developing its information-sharing construct for industry as well as launch new initiatives for industry. We also look forward to forging new partnerships with HMG with the aim of assisting Government achieve the objectives it set out in the National Cyber Security Strategy. Central to this joint working will be the ‘Cyber Growth Partnership’ between Intellect, BIS, and the Cabinet Office. Rt Hon Francis Maude announced the launch of the Cyber Growth Partnership in a 3 December written ministerial statement entitled ‘Progress on the UK Cyber Security Strategy: Protecting and Promoting the UK in a Digital World’. Intellect’s cyber security programme will also begin to work across Intellect’s various markets even more, including financial services, smart grids, and telecommunications. In the meantime, if you are in London this week, please stop by the BIS-Intellect Cyber Security Showcase.

Technorati Tags: 2012, 2013, BIS, Cabinet Office, cyber security, Growth Partnership, intellect

It’s no secret.  We have  hammered home our message all year as many have witnessed on a number of occasions.  And many have taken on-board our message as well. Intellect wants an open market that can deliver the Power of Information strategy; with our response to the strategy outlining the framework for implementation; and our response to the DH’s Procurement Review suggesting how we turn an otherwise adversarial process into a constructive catalyst for delivering the outcomes the NHS and patients want.

Simples, right?

Well we have all the backing we could want from an enthusiastic Secretary of State and a visionary National Director for Patients and Information at the Commissioning Board. We have a strong NHS mandate and information strategy. We have a strong partnership with the DH and Commissioning Board to deliver on this.  We’re not lacking in policy, strategy and will.

Who can forget the ‘paperless NHS by 2015’ announcement – that turned heads in the conference room in October. Plus DH would like to see 100,000 patients benefiting from telehealth by the end of next year. And there is £100 million available for nurses to invest in new technology to support front-line care in addition to the £2.2 million Information Sharing Challenge Fund that was 200% popular. Health IT or digital health services has never been as high on the agenda since…

If this doesn’t get you excited then I don’t know what would.

Actually I do. (more…)

Technorati Tags: DH, intellect, joint plan DH and Intellect, NHS CB, NHS IT, NHS mandate, open to export, Power of Information, UKTI

I have to say I was surprised the NHS mandate, the document setting out the ambitions for the health service for the next two years, was so information technology focused.

Here’s a short summary of what it says:

“In a digital age, it is crucial that the NHS not only operates at the limits of medical science, but also increasingly at the forefront of new technologies. The Board’s objective is to achieve a significant increase in the use of technology to help people manage their health and care.”

Plus these very positive bullet points:

• by 2015 everyone will be able to access GP records, book GP appointments, order repeat prescription & talk to GP online
• implementation & linking EHR in all H&C settings & work to set national information standards to support integration
• significant progress made for 3 million people with LTCs being able to benefit from telehealth & telecare by 2017
• NHS CB to lead major improvements in NHS procurement = more open & fair, & allows providers of all sizes to contribute and to innovate
•  NHS to contribute to the growth of the economy by adopting & spreading new tech & promote exports

Technorati Tags: DH, intellect, joint plan DH and Intellect, NHS CB, NHS IT, NHS mandate, Power of Information

On the 15 November, the first Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections will take place. The aim of the PCCs is to create locally elected and accountable commissioners. The PCCs are intended to foster greater transparency and accountability of the police at the local and national level, with the aim of increased cuts in crime and greater efficiency within forces. (more…)

Technorati Tags: intellect, JESICA, NCA, PCCs, Police ICT Company

A green cross code for the Internet?…

The day before Intellect’s Children and the Internet: Playing it safe conference – #Kidzonline. Habbo hotel, reportedly the world’s largest online community was frozen due to sexually explicit chat aimed at minors, meaning the child online safety debate resurfaced like a seal pup chased by a great white shark. That’s good publicity for Intellect’s #Kidzonline event I hear you say!? Actually no – see my previous blog - as Will Gardner of ChildNet said at the event “one child is one too many”, which I feel is the correct viewpoint. We live in the real world and unfortunately not all is right with it but this topic doesn’t deserve any publicity let alone good publicity.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: BT, CEO Coalition, Childnet, Children and the internet, FOSI, Google, Government ICT, Habbo Hotel, Innovation, intellect, Internet, kidzonline, Lynne Featherstone MP, Neelie Kroes, NSPCC, Online safety, Samsung, Sony, technology, UKCCIS

Analysts Aite Group have today stated that they expect spending on Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) by financial institutions to reach $197.5m in 2015, up from $77.6m in 2010. In itself, this doesn’t represent a significant proportion of a total spend on implementing reforms in the wake of the financial crisis (some may argue it is a conservative estimate) that will be in the billions over the coming years. However, this increase represents an important shift in attitude. (more…)

Technorati Tags: Bank of England, banking reform, critical national infrastructure, data infrastructure, Financial Services, ICT infrastructure, intellect, systemic risk, technology

On Thursday 26 March, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives approved the Cyber Intelligence and Sharing Act (CISPA). CISPA follows, but is distinct from the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) which was met by widespread protest, perhaps most notably from Wikipedia, and ultimately stalled. One of the authors of the bill, Republican representative Mike Rogers, has said that the goal of the bill is to protect the US’s intellectual property (IP). CISPA broadly aims to allow the Government and the private sector to identify and share threat information for the purpose of national security. (more…)

Technorati Tags: America, CISPA, cyber, intellect, legislation, mike rogers, republican, SOPA, US Cyber legislation