Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB)

Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB)

• The aim of the PRSB, which is funded by NHS Digital, is to develop clinical standards for health and care records, as approved by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges.
• All standards are developed with patients, health and social care workers to ensure they meet clinical needs which are then adopted by professionals.
• The website includes an interactive tool to help view standards in more detail.

Data security and protection for health and care organisations

2017/18 Data Security and Protection Requirements
NHS England, NHS Improvement 30 October 2017

• This document sets out the steps all health and care organisations will be expected to take in 2017/18 to demonstrate that they are implementing the ten data security standards recommended by the National Data Guardian, and further details regarding the assurance framework for April 2018 onwards.
• From April 2018 the new Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSP Toolkit) replaces the Information Governance Toolkit (IG Toolkit). 
• General Practices, contracted under the NHS standard GMS, PMS or APMS contract, must comply with the requirements set out in this document. Some requirements will be implemented by the commissioner of the GP IT & GP Information Governance Support Service on their behalf.
• Five key dates requiring action by health and care organisations 
• November 2017: New Data Security and Protection Toolkit replaces the Information Governance Toolkit which will be piloted with users. 
• February 2018: All organisations will have access to the new Data Security and Protection Toolkit from January 2018 to familiarise themselves with the approach to measuring implementation and compliance, including how they might apply it to their organisation from April 2018. 
• April 2018: Further guidance will be published to support organisations to use the new Data Security and Protection Toolkit. 
• April 2018: All organisations will now be required to complete the new Data Security and Protection Toolkit. 
• May 2018: The EU General Data Protection Regulation, and Security of Network and Information Systems Directive, come into force. This will increase the legislative data security and protection requirements on health and care organisations.

NHS digital agenda and plans for implementation

A digital NHS? An introduction to the digital agenda and plans for implementation
Kings Fund 22 September 2016

• This report looks at the key commitments made around moves to support the digital agenda across the NHS, and what is known about progress to date. 
• The report is grouped under three broad themes:
• interoperable electronic health records
• patient-focused digital technology
• secondary use of data, transparency and consent.
• It identifies barriers to further progress and opportunities for delivering on the digital agenda.

Key findings

• Digital technology can transform how patients engage with services, drive improvements in efficiency and care co-ordination, and help people manage their health and wellbeing.
• For historical reasons, the acute sector is furthest from achieving the goals set out under this agenda, in contrast to general practice where use of digital clinical systems is near-universal. Delivering large-scale digital transformation involves risks for NHS leaders (particularly in acute trusts); they should receive more support and tolerance from regulators and commissioners.
• To maximise uptake, patients and the public need to be aware of the benefits of digitisation, while being reassured about data security and use.
• Clinicians and frontline staff must be involved in designing and rolling out new technology.

Making IT Work - Wachter report

Making IT Work: Harnessing the power of health information technology to improve care in England
National Advisory Group on Health Information Technology in England, chaired by Professor Robert Wachter, 7  September 2016

• An examination of the ambition for the NHS https://www.england.nhs.uk/2016/09/digital-revolution/to achieve a paperless NHS by 2020.
• The report timelines indicate an expectation that there should be national interoperability by 2022, and digitisation should be complete by 2023 (see Appendix 3)
• "Getting it right requires a new approach, one that may appear paradoxical yet is ultimately obvious: digitising effectively is not simply about the technology, it is mostly about the people."
• "The purpose is to radically improve the chances that important information will be available when and where it is needed."
• "Getting it right requires a new approach, one that may appear paradoxical yet is ultimately obvious: digitising effectively is not simply about the technology, it is mostly about the people. We have emphasised that approach in this report."
• Some of these recommendations are being implemented through 12 "digital Revolution" trail blazers. See NHS En;gland News
• The report presents 10 overall findings and principles, and 10 implementation recommendations.

The digital requirements of the primary care in the future

The future of primary care: New models and digital requirements
Nuffield Trust December 2015

• A review of the drivers and emerging trends around digital requirements of the primary care sector. 
• The report presents six case studies - Vitality Improving access to care AT Medics, Focus on education & training, West Wakefield Skill mix, Better Together Efficiencies & workforce management, VitruCare Patient empowerment & co-creation of health care and South Somerset Symphony Integration and co-ordination of care.
• The authors suggest that that three technologies should be prioritised locally and nationally: 
• Shared electronic health records (supported by sound interoperability and Information Governance mechanisms) to facilitate coordinated care 
• elehealth solutions to improve patient access to services and professional access to specialist expertise 
• Patient tools and resources such as portals which facilitate booking appointments online and access to records, information and advice 
• It considers the barriers that have to be addressed at local level - resistance to new technology or lack of clinician engagement - and the role that NHS England could play in driving the uptake and development of technology

GPSoC services and GP IT services practice agreement

CCG – practice agreement: Terms governing the provision and receipt of GPSoC services and GP IT services.
NHS England April 2015

• The CCG Practice Agreement sets out the basis on which a CCG will provide GPSoC services to Practices and each Practice’s responsibilities in respect of the receipt of these services.
• See NHS England website: Information technology in primary care

NHS Code4Health programme

NHS Code4Health programme
NHS England 3 March 2015

• NHS England is supporting frontline staff and healthcare professionals to develop apps and other digital tools through the NHS Code4Health programme. The programme provides doctors, nurses and care staff with specialist training and support to create and deliver their own IT programmes and products to increase their involvement in the development of online tools that will directly lead to improved care.
• NHS4Health will provide training, including ‘App in a day’ which takes delegates through the entire process of App development from design to delivery in just one learning session, and the opportunity for individuals and organisations of all sizes to form communities where they can share ideas, insight and tools on how to improve healthcare through the adoption of technology.

GPSoC lot 2 catalogue

GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) lot 2 catalogue
8 December 2014

• GPSoC lot 2 catalogue of services is now available, enabling local organisations, including CCGs and general practices, to procure additional GP IT services, including software, hardware and professional services, through the new framework.
• The catalogue will be updated as needed and is accompanied by a "How to Buy Guide".

Child Protection - Information Sharing solution to be rolled out

Child Protection – Information Sharing solution for NHS and local authorities
NHS England 14 August 2014

• The Child Protection - Information Sharing (CP-IS) will provide health professionals with prompt and easy access to key social care information through linking the IT systems of NHS unscheduled care to those used by social care child protection teams.
• The solution will be rolled out nationally to NHS unscheduled care and local authorities.across England in September 2014.
• CCGs are advised to ensure that local IT arrangements are in place to deliver this project.

CCGs delegated to provide GP IT and OOH services

Primary medical care functions delegated to clinical commissioning groups: Guidance
NHS England 28 March 2014, Clarification 11 August 2014

• NHS England has the power to direct a CCG to exercise any of its functions relating to the provision of  primary medical care services. 
• NHS England is directing CCGs to exercise the following functions on behalf of NHS England in 2014/15:
• 1. Arrange GP Information Technology services in their area 
• 2. Commission out-of-hours primary medical care services for their area
• This document sets out guidance on how CCGs should exercise and report on Delegated functions to area teams.
• A letter of clarification of CCG responsibilities was issued on 11 August 20104

Choose and Book to be superceeded during 2014

The future of NHS England’s Choose and Book programme
NHS England 14 May 2014

• According to Beverley Bryant, Director of Strategic Systems and Technology for NHS England,  “Choose and Book (introduced 2004) will be superseded by a new NHS e-Referral Service will supersede later in 2014. 

GP IT services operating model update

Securing Excellence in GP IT Services: Operating Model, 2nd edition (2014-16)
NHS England 3 April 2014

• GP IT funding will be distributed to CCGs based on patient population size. 
• Funding allocation levels for these services are available here.
• Guidance to support the transition funding and GP capital approvals process is available here.

Guidance on delegated functions - out of hours care and GP IT

Primary medical care functions delegated to clinical commissioning groups: Guidance
NHS England 28 March 2014

• NHS England has the power to direct a CCG to exercise any of its functions relating to the provision of primary medical care services. This guidance sets out the arrangements for CCGs to commission out-of-hours primary medical services for their area.
• NHS England is directing CCGs to exercise the following functions on behalf of NHS England in 2014/15:
• Arrange GP Information Technology services in their area. (Requirements in respect of GP Information Technology will continue to be set out in the Securing Excellence in GP IT Services guidance.)
• Commission out-of-hours primary medical care services for their area. (This document sets out guidance on how CCGs should exercise and report on this delegated function.)
• This guidance updates : Primary medical care functions delegated to clinical commissioning groups: Guidance, NHS England, 26 April 2013

Using anonymised patient information

GP Technical Specification 
NHS England, 29 May 2013

• Guidance for GP practices explaining how better use of anonymised patient information from general practice will help commissioners improve the quality, efficiency, and equity of health care services.
• The initiative is designed to link information from general practice, with information from hospitals and community health care services. This will help the NHS evaluate and improve the quality and safety of the NHS, and enables patients to make more informed choices about the treatments and services they use.
• NHS England, the BMA and the RCGP have worked collaboratively to produce CARE.DATA GUIDE FOR GP PRACTICES and FAQs to support this process.

GP IT services

GP IT services: Operating model - Securing excellence in GP IT Services 
NHS Commissioning Board, December 2012

• From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for primary care information services.  It will delegate responsibility for operational management of GP IT services along with associated funding, to CCGs including provision of clinical systems and support services such as training to GP practices.
• The framework document describes: the scope of operational GP IT services, accountabilities and responsibilities for service delivery, tasks and functions, financial support.

Online feedback in social care

Using Online Reviews in Social Care 
PSSRU Discussion Paper 2836, July 2012

• How useful are online feedback services in providing information about service providers? 
• Includes experiences of established review sites such as TripAdvisor and Amazon.

Digital healthcare delivery

Digital by default -the delivery choice for England's population
Transform, 10 July 2012

• "Digital by default" is Department of Health initiative which aims to reduce unnecessary face-to-face contact between patients and healthcare professionals by incorporating technology into these interactions.
• The ten initiatives highlighted are:
• Minor ailments online assessment 
• Appointment booking online
• Primary Care pre-assessment
• Appointment reminders
• Mobile working in community nursing
•  Pre-operative screening online
• Post-surgical remote follow up
• Remote follow up in Secondary Care
• Remote delivery of test results
• Secondary Care clinic letter

• This initiative is one of the High Impact Innovations  identified in Innovation Health and Wealth, Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS,

Future of informatics in the NHS

Informatics: The future – An organisational summary

DH, 10 July 2012

• An overview of the future system for informatics, implementing the vision for transforming information for the NHS, public health and social care, as set out in the information strategy, and a summary description of the roles of the key organisations.
• “It will be for individual CCGs to determine how information and IT services are secured that best suits their needs and those of their patients, subject to any advice from the NHS Commissioning Board.”

The NHS Informatics Business Plan 2012-13 

High impact innovations

High Impact Innovations
Department of Health, 2012

•  A wide range of material to support the spread and adoption of the High Impact Innovations identified in Innovation Health and Wealth, Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS, along with online communities to allow sharing of real life examples and stories. 
• The innovations are:
• Digital by default
• Three million lives (developing the use of telehealth and telecare services to support people with long term conditions and/or social care needs)
• Child in a chair in a day - right assessment, right equipment, right first time.
• Support for carers of people with dementia
• Intra operative fluid management
• International and commercial (calling for the NHS to look at the economic and industrial role it has, both with respect to health and care related industries and the wider economy)