NHS to go paperless!

Nick Greg · 8th February 2016, 11:03

Breaking news that the government thinks the HNS should go paperless. Have they been asleep for the past 20 years?
Have they forgot the last Labour government spent 10 BILLION quid trying to do the same and it didn't. Thats an obscene amount of waste. But yes please we need paperless, we need to stop waiting for doctors to write letters to us, to be able to order repeat prescriptions on line etc etc. Surely any competent IT company could set that up
Here's hoping. I'll probably be well gone by the time it arrives.

planenut · 8th February 2016, 11:07

All well and good for those who are "computer savvy", but not much help to those who even now do not get enough help.

KWIL · 8th February 2016, 11:15

When it is paperless you will not need a Junior Doctor's strike to close the NHS down, just a simple Denial of Service or other IT attack format to really cause complete chaos.

As regards paperless Presciptions, they cannot get them to the Pharmacy in time now (from what I hear when I am there), paperless will mean you will never know what hs happened or if it has. I prefer to collect my prescription, take it to the Pharmacy myself anf then collect then or later, that way I can get my medication on time.

I think you may well find that it is not the IT companies that cannot deliver, it is more like constant interference and changes to the Requirement Specifications that Government bodies delite in seeking to apply. [ Personal experience ]

Nick Greg · 8th February 2016, 11:20

For those who are not computer savvy I wouldn't worry too much as it will take forever for it to happen.

chipsceola · 8th February 2016, 22:59

Have to disagree, my surgery already has on-line repeat prescriptions and works very well, can even state chemist of your choice to be sent to, arrives always within24hrs and often same day; also has option to book appointment wit Dr or nurse, modern technology working as it should.

murphyv310 · 9th February 2016, 06:52

I'd say it can work to an extent but not in all cases. The NHS is about the ill remember, these people can't all work a computer, tablet or phone a lot are of the age that have never used them.
Again many will be branded old fools and they must use modern technology.
The systems in place at the moment gives trouble, can you imagine if the whole NHS was paperless, chaos!

The Rovering Member · 9th February 2016, 08:04

This mindless rush to get everything floating around in the ether with no hard copy is going to end in tears. Mark my words.

Darcydog · 9th February 2016, 08:37

The previous attempt at a UK wide computer system was dogged by political stupidity and ignorance. Yes that was under the old Labour Government but I have no doubt whatsoever that a Conservative Government is just as capable of making a similar enormous c0ck-up.

However - when i broke a small bone in my wrist I was X-rayed at A&E and at the follow up with my GP he could call up my X-ray on his computer screen as well as all the notes from A&E and we sat there discussing what I should do.

The whole process was excellent.

My GP practice sends referral "letters" to hospital via email.

A lot of what the NHS does is now paperless - and this is internal - it is not going to be forced upon the patients.

The issue is that a medic cannot easily scan your old paper notes in the same way as they can scan/research your medical history held on computer files.

It is a bit like the old joke where someone is lost in Cornwall and wants to get to Truro. They ask a local who says "Best if you don't start from here".

The NHS has this "baggage" of working with an old paper based patient record system knowing that they could work far better if that info could all be entered onto a more modern system.

The issue is - Do we have faith in the Politicians and the Public Servants to secure the best system?

My response, based on my experience, is a definitive - NO.

planenut · 9th February 2016, 10:35

Part of the Civil Service I worked for used to have a paper record of every visit and copy of correspondence for each client, it was a national coverage.

They went to electronic filing - great. Now each visiting representative, prints off the entire record, then when the "business" is finished, they shred the lot, each time.

The Rovering Member · 9th February 2016, 15:48

I'm talking more generally, not just about the NHS.
I don't trust the politicians but nor do l have total faith in electronic systems saving all this information very long term or the risks of that information being deliberately tampered with, lost in the ether, held to ransom, simply deleted by stupidity or malice, or any such occurence.
Paper files do have their own risks but to wish to do away with it totally is sheer folly.

8th February 2016, 11:03	#1
Nick Greg Posted a thing or two Honda Insight Hybrid Join Date: May 2015 Location: Brighouse Posts: 1,157 Thanks: 691 Thanked 424 Times in 280 Posts	NHS to go paperless! Breaking news that the government thinks the HNS should go paperless. Have they been asleep for the past 20 years? Have they forgot the last Labour government spent 10 BILLION quid trying to do the same and it didn't. Thats an obscene amount of waste. But yes please we need paperless, we need to stop waiting for doctors to write letters to us, to be able to order repeat prescriptions on line etc etc. Surely any competent IT company could set that up Here's hoping. I'll probably be well gone by the time it arrives.

8th February 2016, 22:59	#5
chipsceola This is my second home Jaguar XF 3.0D Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Southampton Posts: 4,364 Thanks: 119 Thanked 509 Times in 426 Posts	Have to disagree, my surgery already has on-line repeat prescriptions and works very well, can even state chemist of your choice to be sent to, arrives always within24hrs and often same day; also has option to book appointment wit Dr or nurse, modern technology working as it should. __________________ Chips

9th February 2016, 06:52	#6
murphyv310 This is my second home Hyundai i10 998cc Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 6,602 Thanks: 2,088 Thanked 2,298 Times in 1,349 Posts	I'd say it can work to an extent but not in all cases. The NHS is about the ill remember, these people can't all work a computer, tablet or phone a lot are of the age that have never used them. Again many will be branded old fools and they must use modern technology. The systems in place at the moment gives trouble, can you imagine if the whole NHS was paperless, chaos! __________________ Cheers from Trevor MM0KJJ

9th February 2016, 08:04	#7
The Rovering Member I really should get out more....... Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 2,953 Thanks: 263 Thanked 538 Times in 431 Posts	This mindless rush to get everything floating around in the ether with no hard copy is going to end in tears. Mark my words. __________________ Reducing the size of my Rover fleet by adding a 75 to it.

9th February 2016, 15:48	#10
The Rovering Member I really should get out more....... Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 2,953 Thanks: 263 Thanked 538 Times in 431 Posts	I'm talking more generally, not just about the NHS. I don't trust the politicians but nor do l have total faith in electronic systems saving all this information very long term or the risks of that information being deliberately tampered with, lost in the ether, held to ransom, simply deleted by stupidity or malice, or any such occurence. Paper files do have their own risks but to wish to do away with it totally is sheer folly. __________________ Reducing the size of my Rover fleet by adding a 75 to it.

8th February 2016, 11:07	#2
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	All well and good for those who are "computer savvy", but not much help to those who even now do not get enough help.

8th February 2016, 11:15	#3
KWIL Precise Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fleet Posts: 2,952 Thanks: 630 Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts	When it is paperless you will not need a Junior Doctor's strike to close the NHS down, just a simple Denial of Service or other IT attack format to really cause complete chaos. As regards paperless Presciptions, they cannot get them to the Pharmacy in time now (from what I hear when I am there), paperless will mean you will never know what hs happened or if it has. I prefer to collect my prescription, take it to the Pharmacy myself anf then collect then or later, that way I can get my medication on time. I think you may well find that it is not the IT companies that cannot deliver, it is more like constant interference and changes to the Requirement Specifications that Government bodies delite in seeking to apply. [ Personal experience ]

8th February 2016, 11:20	#4
Nick Greg Posted a thing or two Honda Insight Hybrid Join Date: May 2015 Location: Brighouse Posts: 1,157 Thanks: 691 Thanked 424 Times in 280 Posts	For those who are not computer savvy I wouldn't worry too much as it will take forever for it to happen.

9th February 2016, 08:37	#8
Darcydog This is my second home Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,428 Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts	The previous attempt at a UK wide computer system was dogged by political stupidity and ignorance. Yes that was under the old Labour Government but I have no doubt whatsoever that a Conservative Government is just as capable of making a similar enormous c0ck-up. However - when i broke a small bone in my wrist I was X-rayed at A&E and at the follow up with my GP he could call up my X-ray on his computer screen as well as all the notes from A&E and we sat there discussing what I should do. The whole process was excellent. My GP practice sends referral "letters" to hospital via email. A lot of what the NHS does is now paperless - and this is *internal* - it is not going to be forced upon the patients. The issue is that a medic cannot easily scan your old paper notes in the same way as they can scan/research your medical history held on computer files. It is a bit like the old joke where someone is lost in Cornwall and wants to get to Truro. They ask a local who says "Best if you don't start from here". The NHS has this "baggage" of working with an old paper based patient record system knowing that they could work far better if that info could all be entered onto a more modern system. The issue is - Do we have faith in the Politicians and the Public Servants to secure the best system? My response, based on my experience, is a definitive - NO.

9th February 2016, 10:35	#9
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Part of the Civil Service I worked for used to have a paper record of every visit and copy of correspondence for each client, it was a national coverage. They went to electronic filing - great. Now each visiting representative, prints off the entire record, then when the "business" is finished, they shred the lot, each time.