GP Data Hub second phase goes live
NHS Digital has said the second phase roll out of the GP Data Hub is now complete, with additional content including information on online services for patients such as repeat prescription ordering and appointment booking access.
There is also practice level data on dementia, cervical screening and the number of patients opting out of data sharing, and Sustainability and Transformation Plan maps.
The hub was launched in April to provide statistical information on GP practices. Patients can use it to compare their practices to others.
DfE and CCS set up bulk hardware deal for schools
The Department for Education and Crown Commercial Service are to launch the second in a series of bulk buying deals for schools looking for new tablets, laptops or desktop devices for the beginning of the autumn term.
The DfE said full details will be available on 4 September and that schools will have until 29 September to send in requirements. CCS will work with suppliers to get the best possible prices and notify schools when it awards the relevant contract.
More than 100 schools took up the previous deal, buying more than 2,000 devices with average savings of 8%.
NHS trusts spend £158,000 per day on computers
NHS trusts are spending an average of £158,038 on 233 new computers and laptops every day, according to figures obtained through freedom of information requests by memory and storage company Crucial.
Figures compiled from responses from 197 trusts showed that since the beginning of 2013 they have bought 401,084 new PCs and laptops at an average cost of £650, and disposed of 237,422 laptops and computers.
But the company cited a separate survey in which 42% of 2,000 healthcare professionals said they felt IT hindered them in doing their jobs, and 27% admitted they did not know how to do something requiring the use of technology at work.
Hampshire FRS opts for Azure
Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service has begun to use the Microsoft Azure cloud platform for its FireWatch and FloSuite applications under a managed service with Infographics. The company said there are almost 2,000 end users already using the two applications.
Colin Sutherland, systems manager at Hampshire FRS, said: “This has delivered us cost savings based on the previous hosting arrangement we had in place, increased our level of resilience and support, and also delivered greater flexibility to our employees as they are now able to access our suite of applications from anywhere they have internet access.”
Image from Ocnita Info, public domain through flickr
