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February 2015 
Sharing diagnostic reports
New service connects to Welsh Clinical Portal and GP Test Requesting  

 

A new Diagnostics Reports Service (DRS) allowing Welsh Clinical Portal and GP Test Requesting users a view of diagnostic reports for their patient, regardless of where they are produced, will be piloted at Cwm Taf Health Board and Velindre NHS Trust this summer.

 Diagnostic reports are made up of information collected after tests and procedures are completed and allow clinicians to study a more complete picture of the patient's journey.

The DRS system will initially contain pathology and radiology reports, but has been designed so that it can add diagnostics from various departments, for example from cardiology or endoscopy.
  
DRS is funded by the Health Technology and Telehealth Fund, encouraging the adoption and use of innovative technology.
LIMS momentum
ABMU Microbiology is the newest recipient
  

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg's microbiology department is the latest stop for the new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

 

January's go live follows earlier rollouts in blood sciences and microbiology at Hwyel Dda, Cardiff and Vale, Aneurin Bevan, Cwm Taf and Betsi Cadwaladr (which is also using the new LIMS in their Histology labs). 

 

All of these recent implementations have gone smoothly with relatively low levels of issues being logged, and the responses from users of the new system have been positive and encouraging.

 

The final go live for Abertware Bro Morgannwg University Health Board's (ABMU) blood sciences department on March 30th.

 

The next phase of the programme turns the attention towards blood transfusion. A specific implementation board has been set up to oversee this activity as well as monitor progress as the project moves into formal validation and go lives towards the end of the year.

 

Similar activity is also being started for histology, where a national approach to the development and rollout is being planned with the aim to complete go lives later this year.

Quality of care heard loud and clear
Fundamentals of Care staff survey goes online  
  

For the first time a major part of the annual Fundamentals of Care audit, which measures the quality of care provided by NHS Wales, has been completed online.

The Fundamentals of Care audit, introduced in 2009, measures the quality of care from an operational perspective and provides an opportunity for patients and staff to comment on the care they deliver and receive.

Until now, the responses to the audit questions were captured on paper and then typed into the ward computer. However, new developments to the Fundamentals of Care System (an NHS Wales Informatics Service product) has enabled staff to directly enter their responses through an electronic survey tool.

Around 7,000 nursing and healthcare professionals took advantage of this new feature during the 2014 survey.

Anne Owen, Nursing Informatics Lead with the NHS Wales Informatics Service, managed the move to online responses for the staff element of survey.

"We wanted to make the audit quicker and easier to complete for nursing staff," Owen said. "Feedback has been very positive, with staff saying it has saved them a significant amount of time."

Next steps are to look at making the patient section of the 2015 audit available through the internet, for those who wish to complete the survey online rather than on paper.
Informatics @ Events

UK e-Health Week 2015
  
NHS Wales Clinical Informacist Anne Owen and Community Engagement Lead, David Hopkins will be speaking about the latest developments toward integrating health, community and social care at a nursing plenary on March 3rd during UK e-Health Week at London's Olympia.
  
The event is part of the HC2015 National Health IT Exhibition & Conference, a two day world-class learning and networking opportunity, bringing together the latest e-Health innovations and ideas with those who commission, implement and use them on the frontline.

 

The event is free for all NHS staff.

 

For more information, visit
Born Identity
WBNS goes national
  
The Welsh Birth Notification Service (WBNS), a component of the Welsh Demographics Service, has now been fully rolled out across Wales.
 
The service replaces the   decommissioned 'NHS Numbers For Babies' service (NN4B), a joint England and Wales shared service which has been in operation since 2002. 
 
The WBNS links to the NN4B's successor, the Personal Demographics Service to obtain a newborn's designated NHS number and streamline data processes in Wales. 
Informatics in Numbers
Around 45,000
  
On average,  around 45,000 e-referrals are sent in Wales every month from GP practices to hospitals.
 
To learn more about e-referrals and the Welsh Clinical Communications Gateway, head to our website. 
Shared services

 

More practices join cross border e-referrals project 

  

Following the success of e-referrals sent cross-border last summer between a GP practice in Powys to Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, in Shropshire, another five practices will start sending e-referrals over the border to the same hospital starting later this year.

 

Discussions have also started with Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust to talk about extending to other hospitals on the border.

Career Opportunities 
How to get on the ladder
  

Interested in furthering your career in IT? Or changing to an IT career?

 

NHS Wales Informatics Service employs staff across Wales, supporting doctors, nurses and other clinical professionals to provide the best care to patients in hospitals, GP practices and across the community.

  
Learn how you can be a part of the informatics world by visiting our updated "Working for Us" webpage.  
  

 

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