Children who often visit A&E to be logged on national database

Children who often visit A&E to be logged on national database: Children who often visit A&E to be logged on national database:

Plan to help doctors and nurses spot children suffering from abuse or neglect and avoid cases like that of Baby Peter. All children who visit hospital accident and emergency departments or have out-of-hours GP consultations will be logged in a national database, according to health services minister Dan Poulter.
Medical staff will be able to see if the children they treat are subject to a child protection plan or are being looked after, meaning they are already identified as being at risk. Doctors and nurses will also be able to check if a child has been a frequent visitor to A&E over a period of time – an indication of abuse or neglect.
Under the new system, when a child arrives and is logged in at an emergency department or urgent care centre, a flag will appear on the child's record if they are subject to a protection plan or are being looked after by the local authority. Guardian

Primary care IT services: Operating model published

Primary care IT services: Operating model published:
The NHS Commissioning Board has published a document today setting out how the management of IT systems will be organised for primary care providers (dentists, pharmacists and optometrists) from April 2013.
Securing excellence in IT Services: Operating Model for Community Pharmacies, Appliance Contractors, Dental Practices and Community Optometry explains how the accountability for the delivery of primary care information services will transfer from primary care trusts (PCTs) to the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB).
It follows the publication of the Operating model for GP IT services Securing Excellence in GP IT Services earlier this month which described how responsibility for operational management of GP IT services, along with associated funding, was being discharged to clinical commissioning groups to manage on behalf of the NHS CB.
Under the new system the NHS Commissioning Board will commission access for use of national IT services – such as the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) or NHSmail – for primary care contractors. As part of this it will need to provide the support and assurance linked to these services. This may be through its regional/area teams, commissioning support units (CSUs) or any other IT provider.
Primary care contractors will remain responsible for local implementation of national services and will provide the necessary support services including training, associated hardware and network services. They will be free to choose any local IT delivery organisation.

• Primary care IT Operating Model
• Primary care IT factsheet
• Primary care IT frequently asked questions

NHS Commissioning

Brain scan can sort dementia by type

Brain scan can sort dementia by type: Scientists say they have found a way to distinguish different types of dementia without the need for invasive tests.BBC News - Health