Fog on IT begins to lift
To outsiders, over the past few years, the plans for developing IT systems within the NHS have been shrouded in mystery. It has not been clear what the priorities were, who has been in charge of implementation and what the mandarins have had in store for users (including pharmacists).
Now the fog is beginning to clear, there are signs that people exist
who do know how the National Programme for IT will unfold. Part of the
reason for the lack of clarity is that the system will be fiendishly
complicated, it will involve information about millions of people, require
access by possibly hundreds of thousands of NHS staff, and it will need
to support a wide range of clinical and administrative activities. There
is also a great deal of political kudos at stake — either for those
in government when it works wonderfully or for those in opposition when
it crashes ignominiously at the feet of its creators. It is hardly surprising
that so many people are unsure of how the system will develop.
Leaving that aside, and assuming that the system will eventually deliver
on its promises, now is the time for interested pharmacists to put up
their hands and offer to help.
We report this week (p223) that the NPfIT is seeking pharmacists (and
other clinicians) to help design the aspects of the system that will
underpin their professional activities. Although the programme managers
are asking for a minimum commitment of two days a week for the next six
to 12 months, any pharmacist with a solid understanding of the profession’s
IT needs should consider applying.
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New opportunities — or a new threat?
As part of the Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for elective surgery and to prevent last-minute cancellations because hospitals have to make way for emergencies, treatment centres have been established in many parts of England. The idea is that they should offer fast-track surgery on a day-case basis for simple cases, leaving established hospitals to handle complicated and emergency work. They also provide diagnostic services.
There are a number of different models now in existence and, as a paper commissioned
by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Hospital Pharmacists Group (p237)
points out, there are different opportunities for pharmacists at them all. However,
these treatment centres require adequate staffing and although the Government
initially disallowed staff movement from existing NHS organisations — bringing
in staff from abroad or back from career breaks — that commitment has been
relaxed in parts. There are obvious problems in store for existing hospital pharmacy
departments if that continues unchecked.
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