[GLLUG] IT for the NHS and General Practices

[Alistair Mann]

The "Hundred Flowers" approach* you describe may in fact be the least 
worst alternative as it would naturally mean more successful 
implementations are visible from the less successful.

The problem starts IMHO in defining what IT is to record, and that can 
be as simple as a name. For example Argos does not accept my name as 
"Al" because it's too short (3 character lower limit dontchaknow.) 
Proper database normalisation would see the same record used to describe 
the landline number for myself and my missus such that if my landline 
number changes either it changes for her too, or at least a query is 
raised to her through some other avenue. If we have no formal handling 
of names and telephone numbers 67 years after the Lyons Electronic 
Office, realistically I don't think that a singular common standard or 
framework is desirable, much less possible!

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Flowers_Campaign
-- 
Alistair Mann

t: 07899 846 648
w: www.pectw.net

On 23/06/18 10:03, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> Hello,
> There appears to be an attempt to split the NHS into smaller isolated areas
> and to encourage more effective choice from local GP's, who may have views on
> the facilities they require but may not be experts in IT. Is there any kind of
> coordinated effort to introduce a world-wide, or at least UK-wide, common
> standard system for both the NHS and independent General Practices? Is there
> already any common standard system or framework that can be used without the
> need for too much individual development? I do not have much hope that our
> government is any more IT competent, and too many people appear to have their
> heads in the clouds, assuming that IT just happens in no time at all.
> Prompted by the latest newsletter from my local GP, a quick Google search
> threw up plenty of management-speak waffle on the need to share data. I did a
> quick search on the Debian website for the description "medical" and found
> items such as GNUmed. I have already used packages found on Debian to view my
> personal collection of CT, MRI, and Ultrasound scans.
>