[GLLUG] IT for the NHS and General Practices

[Chris Hunter]

-------- Original message --------From: Chris Bell via GLLUG <gllug at mailman.lug.org.uk> Date: 24/06/2018  11:48  (GMT+01:00) To: The mailing list for the Greater London Linux User Group <gllug at mailman.lug.org.uk> Cc: Chris Bell <chrisbell at chrisbell.org.uk> Subject: Re: [GLLUG] IT for the NHS and General Practices 
On Saturday, 23 June 2018 21:40:51 BST Alistair Mann via GLLUG wrote:
> 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
> 

That is exactly the kind of skeleton framework that I would expect to see, 
rather than every individual NHS local provisioning area cooking up something 
for themselves so that there is nothing in common. It might require 
individuals, who understand what is required, to collaborate on designing a 
new overall specification, even if it must be done outside of the current NHS 
system, so that it is at least available if and when the current system falls 
over. Many NHS facilities are provided by groups linked to universities, (I am 
still alive thanks to Imperial College facilities), so could they make a 
start?


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Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk

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Chris 
I'm still here despite the NHS computer systems at Papworth Hospital! 
The lack of any basic understanding of the requirements of even a basic database in the NHS has made them susceptible to any snake-oil salesmen that see easy pickings!
There's nothing that we can do about it - any explanation or suggestion falls on deaf ears.
Chris
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