Department of Health

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Primary care computing

Information on a range of technology related topics in primary care, from the electronic prescriptions pilot scheme to computerised learning and support tools for GPs.

Modernising information management and technology in general practice

Published April 2006. The content of this guidance has been agreed between the Department of Health and the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and is intended to provide further advice and guidance to PCTs that they are recommended to take into account when making any arrangements for the provision of IM&T support services. It sets out good practice and proposes a number of sensible service standards and procedures that the PCT and the practice can utilise as a basis for their agreement. To ensure the efficient operation of practice based IM&T, it is not envisaged that PCTs would wish to reach agreements where the overall level of support available to practices fell short of the service standards proposed in this document. PCTs are asked to ensure that all their practices and local IM&T suppliers are made aware of the contents of this guidance.

Requirements for Accreditation

RFA was first introduced in April 1993 to ensure General Medical Practice computer systems provided an agreed core functionality and conformed to national standards. FHSL(97)47, issued on 8 December 1997, (and subsequent amending letters) encouraged HAs to reimburse GPs only for accredited computer systems. Responsibility for the RFA process is currently under review.

Electronic transmission of prescriptions pilot project

The ETP pilots closed at the end of June 2003 having served their intended purpose. The pilots have been independently evaluated. Amongst the key findings of the evaluation is that ETP is technically viable and could provide a range of benefits including improved patient choice and safety. This information will be used by the National Programme for NHS IT charged with taking forward the work needed for the successful delivery of ETP.

PRODIGY

PRODIGY is a computer-based decision and learning support tool for GPs, offering a series of recommendations for the treatment of a condition. Used during the consultation, the GP enters a diagnosis, in response to which PRODIGY can suggest a range of therapy options to prescribe, as well as specific non-drug advice, patient information leaflets or recommend a referral. There is also a wealth of clinical background information for use outside the consultation, as either reference or learning material. A fourth phase of the programme will commence shortly to further develop practical support for clinical governance and to take heed of new policy initiatives embodied in the NHS Plan. The Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics Newcastle University (SCHIN) has been successful in securing a further three-year contract with the Department of Health for delivery of this work.

Project Connect

The Project Connect programme will deliver integrated computer systems linking the NHS, local hospitals and local doctors, and will be available to all GPs at their own desktop. Each GP will have facilities for their own e-mail to receive electronic test results and to access on-line health information.

Electronic GP medical records

A change to the GPs' terms of service effective from 1 October 2000 allows for GPs to maintain part or all of their patient medical records on a computer system if they so wish.

BT Priority Fault Repair Scheme (BTPFRS)

BTPFRS offers GPs and pharmacists (subject to conditions set out in HSC1999/142) free access to a tailored priority repair scheme with BT. Included is BT's normal repair service, included as part of rental/hire agreements/contracts etc as standard care. In addition, they market additional improved repair services for specified customer groups, TotalCare and PromptCare. These services are regulated by OFTEL. A cental NHS budget managed by the Department of Health pays for TotalCare or PromptCare services for general practitioners and pharmacists subject to the conditions outlined in HSC 1999/142. The provision of these services provide enhanced response times in respect of telecommunication faults for these users. For example, TotalCare provides a twenty-four hour, seven day a week service with four hour response times.

Computer reimbursement scheme

Scheme letting primary care organisations directly reimburse a proportion of the computing costs incurred by a practitioner, restricted principal, partnership or group practice.

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