After months of waiting and wondering, the NHS information strategy has seen the light of day. Unfortunately, ‘The Power of Information’ has little to say about a big area of concern for GPs - GPSoC. What will happen when the framework expires in 2013 will be discussed at a BMA conference today.

Where the strategy does provide some detail is on the commitment that all patients must have online access to their records by 2015. GPs will be interested to read that a “modest investment” of time to support patients in understanding their records will lead to increases in productivity that will “far outweigh the initial investment.”

For those who remain unconvinced of the benefits of providing records access to patients, this strategy will do little to motivate them to make it a reality. Not least because while it insists that patients want records access, evidence of demand on the ground remains patchy.

The general reaction is that while the strategy is sensible and laudable in its objectives, it provides little detail on how to achieve them. There are no milestones to track progress on the various projects and no certainty around funding. Those hoping for real answers to hard questions will be disappointed.

New NHS information strategy unveiled

The new NHS information strategy urges health and social care services to make full use of online technologies to put patients in control of their health and health records.

Patient access to GP records by 2015

Providing patients access to their online records by 2015 is one of the few specific commitments in the government’s newly released NHS information strategy.

Buckman attacks reforms and email plans

The British Medical Association’s GP leader has launched a blistering attack on the new Health and Social Care Act, saying it “risks endangering the NHS in England.”

Four TPP practices pilot records access

Four TPP practices are piloting a scheme to provide patients with access to their health records online; but the company’s clinical director has said many GPs still have concerns.

Maudsley launches HealthVault-based PHR

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is today launching personal online health records for its patients, using Microsoft’s HealthVault platform.

North Essex Partnership moves to PARIS

North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is investing £5m in designing and implementing a clinical information system using Civica’s PARIS software.

“I think this is just about the most hopeful and forward looking idea I have heard in NHS IT, ever.”

“Where there are high quality, low cost alternatives to face-to-face contact with our health and care professionals then, increasingly, we [patients] should have the choice to use them.”

The NHS information strategy is finally launched and makes the case for a ‘digital first’ NHS.

‘Power to patients’ – NHS information Strategy Group

This new EHI group dedicated to discussions relating to the 2012 NHS Information Strategy, The Power of Information, putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need