Department of Health publishes new information strategy

The Department of Health has published its latest information strategy, which aims to make healthcare data more accessible.

Entitled 'The power of information', the strategy has set out a ten-year framework that will transform information for the NHS, public health and social care, including a commitment that people will be able to access their GP records online by 2015.

Other targeted measures include the ability to book and reschedule medical appointments online, the online availability of test results and the introduction of a single website to act as a trusted source of information across the healthcare sector.

As part of the strategy, the department has highlighted a number of case studies in which GPs, hospital trusts or suppliers are already leading the way.

These include a Manchester GP surgery that encourages patients to access their records online, as well as Bristol care homes that use barcodes to avoid medication errors.

Earlier this month, the department also published new data capturing and reporting arrangements for medicines use review.