Healthcare and NHS IT
IT is becoming increasingly critical for healthcare delivery. Vital initiatives such as electronic medical records, patient administration systems and telehealth are receiving growing investment in the NHS and elsewhere. Key technologies such as mobile, tablets and cloud are also essential for improving the healthcare industry with digital healthcare technology. Read the latest news about NHS IT and find resources on the broader world of healthcare IT with the news, case studies and advice in this topic section.
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News
20 Jun 2025
Cyber Essentials certifications rising slowly but steadily
The number of businesses attaining the NCSC Cyber Essentials certification continues to increase, but much more can be done to raise awareness of the scheme. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2025
Dutch cloud pioneers face the hard limits of digital sovereignty
The Netherlands’ ambitious talk of digital independence meets the unforgiving economics of global cloud dominance Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2016
Saudi Arabia could warm to cloud computing, so long as regulation and connectivity keep pace
One of the world’s biggest oil producers has responded to tumbling crude prices by announcing a $2tn war chest to fund an economic diversification strategy, with IT set to be a beneficiary Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2016
Disrupting IT in the Nordics, from banks to taxis
IT is dramatically changing traditional industry sectors in the Nordic region. Computer Weekly examines the transformation Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2016
Mobilising a workforce drives up performance and productivity
Mobile workers are also more creative, satisfied and loyal, says EIU study Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Apr 2016
CW@50: From local innovations to centralisation – 50 years of healthcare IT
From broom cupboards doubling as server rooms to teleprinters and green screens, as Computer Weekly prepares to celebrate its 50th birthday, we look back at NHS innovations, pitfalls and attempts to digitise over the past five decades Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2016
Singapore is second most cloud ready country in Asia-Pacific
Broadband quality, data privacy and pro-business regime makes Singapore the second most cloud ready country in the Apac region Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2016
Indonesian internet users turn to smartphones to go online
Organisations with a cyber footprint in Indonesia must understand most internet users in the country access online content and services on smartphones Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2016
Free Wi-Fi to be implemented across the NHS by 2019
By March 2018, all secondary care providers will offer free Wi-Fi to patients, with primary care following on in March 2019 Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2016
Hillingdon Hospitals give clinicians mobile access to care records
Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust builds a mobile digital care record app, giving doctors and nurses access to patient information on iPads Continue Reading
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E-Zine
19 Apr 2016
The hunters who prey on cyber criminals
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the hunters – a new breed of security expert that proactively hunts down cyber attackers before they can strike. We visit Silicon Valley to meet some of the up-and-coming startups in data analytics and business intelligence. And we hear from IT leaders about the people, process and cultural aspects of managing digital transformation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2016
NHS England shares results of trusts' digital maturity self-assessments
Data suggests Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust come out on top in NHS England’s digital maturity assessment Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Apr 2016
Singapore’s Jurong Health Services: Transforming healthcare through data technologies
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) is being recognised for its high standards of data use Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2016
IT specialist sentenced for stealing NHS computer equipment
A former NHS IT worker is convicted of stealing hospital computer equipment from Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation trust and selling them on eBay Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2016
Cyber criminals use Microsoft PowerShell in ransomware attacks
A newly discovered family of ransomware, dubbed PowerWare, uses Microsoft PowerShell to target organisations through macro-enabled documents Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2016
US hospital claims to have fought off a ransomware attack
A hospital in Kentucky claims to have regained control of its IT systems five days after cyber criminals hit it with a ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2016
Gov.uk Verify not secure enough for NHS, says HSCIC
The government’s Verify identity verification platform isn’t secure enough for the NHS, so Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and HSCIC are working to add extra levels of security Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2016
Southend Council to connect key sites with dark fibre network
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council selects CityFibre to supply a 50km dark fibre network across 120 public sector sites in the town Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2016
NHS England injects £55m to boost e-Referrals uptake
NHS England will use £55m to reward GPs and hospitals using digital referrals by 2018 to increase uptake of its e-Referrals programme Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2016
Why are big government IT projects still going wrong?
The rural payments programme has again been in the spotlight over its failures, continuing the trend of government IT programmes being noted not for their success, but rather the opposite Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2016
Great Ormond Street NHS hunts for EPR and research platform worth up to £50m
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is looking for an electronic patient record system and a clinical research platform worth £50m Continue Reading
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E-Zine
23 Feb 2016
Surviving broadband failure
In this week’s Computer Weekly, after the recent BT broadband outage, we examine the options to keep your communications in place in the event of a failure, to ensure business continuity. We look at the prospects for the OpenStack open source cloud platform in the enterprise. And we see how Ireland is making progress on delivering a digital health service. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2016
HR technology heads to cloud in Finland
Computer Weekly talked to Finnish experts about Finnish enterprises moving to cloud-based HR IT systems Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Feb 2016
CW Europe: February 2016
In Europe cloud is restricted and hybrid setups make use of local compute and storage. Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2016
CIO interview: Nick Hopkinson, Devon Partnership NHS Trust
NHS trust’s CIO aims to deliver digital technology that helps clinicians spend more time with patients Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2016
MK:Smart enlists IoT supplier ThingWorx for speedy development
Milton Keynes smart city project selects ThingWorx to provide a rapid application deployment environment Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2016
Beverley Bryant gives details on £1.8bn paperless NHS funding
Both capital and revenue funding will be made available to NHS organisations, but not through a “traditional” tech fund Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2016
NHS London Procurement Partnership to tender for EPR framework
The NHS London Procurement Partnership plans clinical digital information systems framework tender to support the "paperless by 2020" agenda Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2016
London mental health trust doctors use Skype for patient consultations
South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust doctors use Skype so patients can stay at home to attend outpatient appointments Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2016
Crunch time for Australian CIOs as analytics platforms drive strategy in 2016
CIOs in Australia and elsewhere will be expected to deploy technologies that promise to help them get more from the information they own Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2016
NHS 24 admits ‘systematic failure’ of £117m IT project
NHS 24 has admitted that a “systematic failure around project governance” was the cause of its major IT transformation project disaster Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2016
PwC acquires Polish cloud consultancy for European operation
PwC is buying Poland-based IT services firm Outbox to build its cloud skills and resources across Europe Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2016
NHS England launches hunt for ‘CI&TO’ to replace Kelsey
NHS England seeks chief information and technology officer to take over from director for patients and information Tim Kelsey, who left late last year Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2016
Blackpool becomes third NHS trust to get open-source EPR
Open-source electronic patient records continue to gain traction in the NHS as Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust signs up Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2016
Fears of software skills shortage in Germany and the Netherlands
Organisations in Germany and the Netherlands are struggling to fill positions for software developers as they digitise Continue Reading
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News
31 Dec 2015
Top 10 internet of things stories of 2015
2015 was the year the internet of things began to move from theory to widespread practice, and the fledgling industry shook off the millstone of connected kitchen appliances Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2015
EE and Motorola confirmed as ESN suppliers by Home Office
EE and Motorola have been formally selected to provide a resilient national 4G network for the UK’s ambulance, fire and police services Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2015
Russian big data in early stages
The use of big data technologies in Russia is still embryonic and the economic slowdown is stalling developments Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2015
Cyber attacks an increasing concern for Asean countries
Organisations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are increasingly the targets for cyber criminals, according to a report focused on the region Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2015
India’s HCL opens Estonian operation to support Nordic customers
HCL Technologies opens an Estonian delivery centre which will support customers across Europe, including those in the Nordic region Continue Reading
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Photo Story
03 Dec 2015
UKtech50 2015 - The most influential people in UK IT
Computer Weekly's annual search for the 50 most influential people in the UK tech scene is complete - meet the winners Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2015
UKtech50 2015 - The most influential people in UK IT
Computer Weekly has announced the sixth annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK IT sector Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2015
UKtech50 2015 - Computer Weekly's five rising stars
We select five IT leaders destined for great things, to recognise the rising stars of IT alongside our annual list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2015
Spending review: Osborne gives NHS £1bn for technology boost
The NHS will get £1bn to spend on technology – including an interoperable patient record system – chancellor George Osborne has announced Continue Reading
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E-Zine
23 Nov 2015
Technology helping to deliver aid for refugees
In this week's Computer Weekly, we find out how technology is helping to deliver vital aid to Syrian refugees in the Middle East. We look at the barriers to achieving the government's aim of a paperless NHS. And the CTO of special effects studio Framestore talks about the IT challenges behind hit movies such as Gravity. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
20 Nov 2015
CIO interview: Lone Bundgaard, Coloplast
IT development head at Danish medical products and services company plays core role in major change to how the company engages with its customers Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2015
Cyber security mindset needs to change, says report
Government organisations are prime targets for cyber attacks, leading to increased importance on robust information security, according to a report by Intel Security and the Digital Government Security Forum Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2015
Whitehall IT chiefs open up about challenges of going cloud-first in central government
Whitehall IT chiefs talk about the progress they have made with abiding by the central government cloud-first mandate Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Nov 2015
Does Cambridge University Hospital’s Epic project indicate NHS lacks capacity?
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s £200m eHospital project was seen as a model of how an NHS trust could revolutionise its IT, autonomously. A tale of over-ambition? Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2015
Irish hospital to offer patient access to records by November 2016
Galway Clinic plans a big-bang launch of its Meditech electronic medical record system, which includes a patient portal and mobile app Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 Nov 2015
How Taiwan is building the internet of things
In this week's Computer Weekly, we meet the Taiwanese companies that are developing the technology building blocks for the internet of things. Our latest buyer's guide looks at the skills needed for modern IT leadership. And we examine the technology options to take superfast broadband speeds even higher. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2015
NHS Education for Scotland chooses PA Consulting Group to develop digital learning resources
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) signs PA Consulting Group to develop its “one stop shop” digital platform of learning resources for NHS staff Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2015
Philips uses AWS and IoT to deliver healthcare in the home
Philips plans to make it easier for patients to self-monitor their health using Amazon web services (AWS) cloud and the internet of things (IoT) technologies Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2015
HMRC VAT rules cut cloud costs by 20% for NHS and government departments
An HMRC ruling on reclaiming tax on cloud services could drive up the use of off-premise technologies in the public sector Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Oct 2015
How CIOs can raise their 'IT clock speed' as pressure to innovate grows
CIOs are facing pressure from the board to roll out IT projects increasingly quickly. How can they do that without running unacceptable risks? This article, based on cutting-edge research among leading businesses, offers some answers Continue Reading
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E-Zine
19 Oct 2015
IT giants Dell and EMC unite
In this week's Computer Weekly, Dell's proposed $67bn acquisition of EMC would be the biggest in the history of IT – we assess the implications. £175bn of IT outsourcing contracts come up for renewal in the next three years- what are your options? And we hear from IT leaders about security and the internet of things. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2015
South Manchester NHS signs up to take Allscripts EPR
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust has become the latest trust in the region to choose an electronic patient record system from Allscripts Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2015
NHS Health Apps Library to close
The NHS Health Apps Library is shutting down after a two-year tenure, shortly after NHS-approved apps were found to leak data Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Oct 2015
Europe's data privacy shake-up
In this week's Computer Weekly, after the European Court of Justice ruled the Safe Harbour agreement invalid, we assess the implications for transatlantic data protection. We find out why DVLA has brought its IT back in-house after a 13-year outsourcing deal. And we look at the role of IT in cutting costs in the NHS. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
09 Oct 2015
Lack of trust for banks causes NHS rethink over government online identity scheme
NHS trials of the Verify ID assurance system found patients concerned over using banks to allow access to medical data Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2015
What to consider when IT outsourcing contracts come up for renewal
Outsourcing contracts worth billions of pounds come up for renewal over the next few years – but unprecedented industry change complicates the CIO's decision Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Oct 2015
Risky and untested: What went wrong with the ESN procurement?
In his first major interview since walking away from the Emergency Services Network procurement, Airwave COO John Lewis reveals why his company could take no further part in the process, and discusses the future of emergency services communications Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2015
AXA PPP gives clients online GP appointments
UK healthcare insurer AXA PPP gives clients access to online GP appointments from anywhere in the world Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2015
Medical devices must be secure by design, say industry experts
The information security industry is calling for medical device manufacturers to design and build cyber security into all internet-enabled devices after thousands are found to be hackable Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2015
Two thirds of UK businesses never meet important customers
British businesses don't always meet their best customers or the people they do most business with, because of trends in modern technology Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2015
University College London Hospital tracks patients using app
Clinicians at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) view patients’ pathology results and track them with an app Continue Reading
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E-Zine
28 Sep 2015
Keeping app pirates at bay
In this week's Computer Weekly, we look at how digital piracy is affecting app developers – and what they can do about it. The man behind the controversial NHS Care.data project has quit – what will it mean for the troubled programme? And we find out how digital disruption is affecting the insurance market. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2015
Gigabit network is more than a fringe benefit for city of Edinburgh
As CityFibre begins a 150km fibre dig in Edinburgh, local businesses and the city council outline their objectives and plans for ultrafast broadband Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2015
Health chief 'should be held to account' for whistleblow errors
Former nurse and clincial commissioner Bernie Rochford claims unfair dismissal after blowing the whistle on IT problems which put patient care at risk Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2015
Care.data chief Tim Kelsey to leave NHS England
NHS England’s digital chief will leave the organisation in December to take up a new role with Telstra Health in Australia Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2015
NHS trust denies bullying and intimidation of IT whistleblower
Managers were already aware of whistleblower's concerns about the accuracy of NHS Southwark's data, tribunal hears Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2015
US health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield hit by data breach
Forensic investigation reveals a data breach at US health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield exposing up to 11 million records 21 months after the first intrusion Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Sep 2015
Why Pegasystems' CEO, Alan Trefler, has learned to think smaller
Pegasystems has made its name supplying CRM, analytics and case management software to the world's largest companies. Now CEO Alan Trefler plans to use cloud computing to broaden Pega's appeal Continue Reading
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E-Zine
01 Sep 2015
Wearable technology proves its worth on the front line
In this week's Computer Weekly, we look at business applications for wearable technology. With hands-free police and military pilot projects already under way, wearable technology is set to make its mark in the enterprise in the near future. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2015
Kellogg Brown and Root wins ESN Delivery Partner contract
Kellogg Brown and Root has won the contract to supply Lot 1 of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2015
CIO interview: Elisabeth Stjernstoft, Apoteket
When the Swedish government introduced competition to the pharmaceuticals sector in 2009, the former monopoly faced a major IT transformation Continue Reading
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News
21 Aug 2015
Salisbury NHS signs up to Lorenzo electronic patient record system
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust the latest NHS trust to implement the Lorenzo electronic patient record system (EPR) Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2015
Use technology to improve NHS, say patients
Almost 70% of the population believes technology should be used in the NHS to improve patient outcomes and efficiency, says Trustmarque Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2015
NHS Central Southern deploys Clarizen for collaboration
The NHS Central Southern Commissioning Support Unit has enlisted Clarizen to improve cross-group collaboration and improve efficiency Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2015
Genomics England rejects open source to deploy EMC Isilon HPC storage
100,000 Genomes Project rejects building open-source parallel file system on x86 servers and opts for EMC Isilon clustered NAS deployed by Capita S3 Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2015
NHS IT system for GP data upload slammed for delays and overspend
National Audit Office report highlights problems that led to four-year delay and a system that did not work when completed Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2015
Accenture uses Avanade cloud for NHSmail
Accenture to deploy a cloud-based email system for NHS staff using a combination of Microsoft software and Avanade cloud technology Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2015
Pharmaceutical companies use BPM to cut cost of clinical trial drugs
Pharmaceutical companies have developed an IT system to secure the supply of medicines they need for clinical studies, saving hundreds of thousands on their drugs bill in the process Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2015
NHS e-Referral system goes live, despite 33 issues and GDS warning
NHS England has launched its replacement hospital appointment booking service, even though it has known errors and failed to follow government digital guidelines Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Jun 2015
The file-sharing face-off: Box or Dropbox
In this week's Computer Weekly, we look at the two most popular tools for cloud-based enterprise file sharing and assess the relative merits of Box and Dropbox. We talk to some of the early pioneers in developing smartwatch apps. And we find out why IT security spending is shifting from prevention to detection and response. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2015
Sourcing must adapt to digital business goals, says Gartner
Businesses need to change their sourcing strategies if they are to keep pace with the digital revolution, says analyst organisation Gartner Continue Reading
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E-Zine
01 Jun 2015
Google’s big data vision
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine Google’s 11-year big data journey from MapReduce to Cloud Bigtable, the internet giant’s latest NoSQL database service. We look at the role of mobile technology in helping to join up health and social care in the UK. And John Lewis IT director Paul Coby talks about the IT challenges of creating an omni-channel retailer. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2015
Top six enterprise IT priorities in the Nordics
The future of enterprise IT looks bright in the Nordic region, with growing focus on datacentre investments, national cloud and automatisation Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2015
Researchers raise privacy concerns about Bluetooth Low Energy devices
Researchers have raised privacy concerns about a growing number of devices using Bluetooth Low Energy technology Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2015
Fire services to keep Airwave Tetra radios until 2020
The Department for Communities and Local Government approves a major extension of the fire services' Firelink Tetra network to the end of 2019 Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2015
Former nurse’s career blighted after blowing whistle on IT problems
Southwark's continuing care database included names of patients who had been dead for several years, a tribunal is told Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2015
PSNGB rebrands to drive information sharing across PSN
PSNGB, the trade association set up to promote the Public Services Network, rebrands itself as Innopsis and says its work is far from over Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2015
Accenture chosen to run NHS email service
The NHS email service is to be provided by Accenture, after the IT services firm was announced as the preferred bidder by HSCIC Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2015
Liberal Democrats promise to double innovation spend and 99.9% broadband roll-out
The Liberal Democrats’ general election manifesto promises to double innovation spending and roll out high-speed broadband to 99.9% of homes Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Apr 2015
NHS data security: Lessons to be learned
The NHS does not always provide a trusted repository for patient data, but some trusts are examples of good practice in action Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2015
NHS announces £78m technology fund for health and social care providers
The NHS will give £78m integrated digital care funding to health and social care providers in 2015 to help them invest in technology Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2015
UK attacks on crypto keys and digital certificates endemic
All UK security professionals polled in a global survey have responded to attacks on keys and certificates in past two years Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2015
Internet of things and 5G network research priority in 2015 Budget
Research into the internet of things and the 5G networks to support it figured highly in chancellor George Osborne’s 2015 Budget Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2015
Premera hack exposes 11 million financial and medical records
US health insurance firm Premera Blue Cross reveals an IT systems breach, exposing financial and medical records of 11 million customers Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2015
Strong future for enterprise IT in Nordic countries
From attracting the world to its ice-cool datacentres to the digitisation of the public sector, there is plenty going on in the Nordic region Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2015
London’s Air Ambulance swaps A-Z maps for mobile apps
London’s Air Ambulance has halved emergency dispatch times through an incident information and routing app from Mubaloo Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2015
Airwave's Tetra emergency services radio "costly and inflexible"
Incumbent Airwave failed to advance to the next stage of the Emergency Services Network procurement because its Tetra radio technology was too inflexible for current needs, according to reports Continue Reading