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System migration numbers rise
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All GP practices to have new systems by next summer
Over 50% of GP practices in Wales have now received new IT systems and equipment as part of the NHS Wales programme to deliver modern systems and services to General Practices in Wales.
The programme is on course to deliver the new systems to all 465 practices by the end of Summer 2015. Between three to five practices are being 'migrated' to the new systems every week.
The work is being managed via three NHS Wales Informatics Service offices in Swansea, Pontypool and Mold. The Swansea office alone has distributed around 1850 PCs since the programme began in Spring 2013, and the Primary Care support team are enjoying some busy days.
"It can be very busy most days, getting PC's ready for the forthcoming migrations, sorting the kit that has come back from previous migrations for re-use or decommissioning, keeping on top of the incoming calls and organising site visits for the technicians," explained Support Technician Mark Lewis.
In the weeks preceding a migration the technical team will set up all the PCs destined for a practice, in a specific 'Build Area' - usually a dedicated room in one of the three offices. Support staff will visit a practice a few months before the migration to identify software currently installed. This software is then analysed and reinstalled if applicable when the replacement PC's are built prior to delivering to the practice.
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 New module collects birth details Maternity staff in North Wales have started using an NHS Wales-developed system to improve how they are recording pre- and post-pregnancy information to help provide better care. Midwives, support workers, obstetric doctors and other relevant staff working on or within the maternity wards access the new maternity module available on the Myrddin Patient Administration System on a daily basis to record and view information. "The introduction of this system now allows us to collect data more accurately, this data can then be collected into reports capturing the specific information required for each user, both on a national and local level," says North Wales midwife, Sarah Aston. "We now also have the option for medical and family history to be visible to other clinicians which can be especially useful in emergencies." Other midwives say the recording of patient contacts using the new system is more practical. For instance, previously only pregnant women were recorded. Now all patient contacts are logged providing a more accurate reflection of maternity caseload and contacts. They also say the system is helping manage pathways for high risk women, where relevant staff will be able to see which healthcare journey these women are taking and ensure that the services they need are in place for them. Aston says that the ease of using the maternity module has significantly reduced the time and manpower required to collect this data, returning valuable clinical hours back to staff. Maternity staff who work in Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in North Wales and Powys are not the only ones in Wales benefiting from the system. Staff in Hywel Dda and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg also use the maternity module. |
National online medicines guide expanded
An online medicines information guide used across the UK by nurses and doctors has now been expanded to include guides endorsed by UK-wide professional pharmacy groups.
A paediatric intravenous medicines guide (suitable for children and neonates), and an ocular injection guide have now been included.
Both guides will help nurses and doctors in different clinical settings to prepare and deliver medicines by providing information on methods of administration, dilution rates, dose calculations and possible adverse effects.
The information is written by pharmacy staff and the technical development, including the enhancement of the data entry screens, and support is provided by the NHS Wales Informatics Service.
Developed by NHS Wales for UK-wide use over 15 years ago in conjunction with the Pharmacy department at Imperial College NHS Trust and UK Medicines Information, the online guide is continually accommodating new pharmaceutical guidance from professional groups. The next development will include intramuscular and subcutaneous guides which will help nursing staff who are administering medicines in the patient's home for chronic conditions.
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North Wales latest to Go Live with new pathology system
The new all-Wales Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is now live throughout Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, including microbiology, blood sciences and histology departments.
It is the first histology department in Wales to go live.
Cwm Taf and Hywel Dda health boards sent representatives who were on site to offer support and gain valuable experience for their future histology go lives.
"The hours of detailed planning really paid off," Betsi Cadwaladr's Pathology Clinical Program Group Interim Chief of Staff Dr David Fletcher said. "I am extremely grateful to my NHS Wales colleagues and Intersystems for delivering a single clinical IT system for all Pathology services across North Wales, which will be the foundation supporting our service transformation programme."
The new LIMS is now live in five out of seven health boards: Betsi Cadwaladr, Cwm Taf, Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan and Cardiff and Vale.
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Brummie Bound
Informatics Director Andrew Griffiths will be delivering a keynote speech at the EHI Live event held 5th November in Birmingham.
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 Movin' on up
Our offices in Brunel House, Cardiff will be moving during December to a new, more affordable facility across from Cardiff Castle on Cowbridge Road.
We'll keep you posted about new addresses and details closer to the moving date.
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New Data Dictionary published
A new version of the NHS Wales Data Dictionary has been released and is helping developers design systems that comply with national standards.
The NHS Wales Data Dictionary v4.6 is the definitive guide to the definition, collection and interpretation of nationally agreed data standards adopted by NHS Wales. It has been developed for anyone who is actively involved in the collection and reporting of data and the management of information in the NHS in Wales.
The Data Dictionary covers the definitions and permissible values associated with the capture and reporting of data for a wide range of purposes.
Since 2006, these requirements and standards have been assured by the Welsh Information Standards Board (WISB). Data Standards contained within the Data Dictionary will especially be of interest to professionals and organisations that work within Health and Social Care, along with suppliers of electronic systems and services used across NHS Wales.
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