How the National Programme For it (NPfIT) Is Improving Healthcare

If you've heard about the NPfIT, and the NHS Connecting For Health programme, then perhaps it's not been painted in a positive picture, and that you may have been led to believe that it's a huge waste of money that could have been better spent elsewhere.

Here's what you probably haven't heard about the National Programme for IT.

1. It's the biggest civil IT programme ever undertaken, and involves improving the communication and integration between different healthcare providers, making care and resources much more efficient, and so improving care for patients.

2. This IT programme affects all aspects of healthcare. Dentists, doctors and hospitals, as well as supporting and related healthcare providers will be able to benefit from a vastly increased IT infrastructure.

3. Over ?100 million will be saved on healthcare annually thanks to this programme, which means that it will represent excellent value for money.

4. staff have access to the information they need, immediately - X rays and ultrasounds

5. One of the main advantages is that patient records will always be up to date, even if the patient is treated in different establishment, or even in a different part of the country. This means that there is also no delay if a patient moves to a different GP or dentist, or needs treating at a specialist hospital.

6. Medical records will be updated, so that a dentist will know whether their patient has recently had surgery, and a GP will know whether their patient is on medication after having dental work carried out. This will ensure that there is no conflict with the treatment given, and that if a patient has any allergies, they are well documented.

7. Patients will be able to take advantages of some of the modern technology to enable them to see their test results at home without needing to make an appointment to see their doctor, and booking their appointments online, at the time and location most suitable for them.

8. Thanks to the introduction of electronic patient health records, there will be no more lost medical records. This is because the records can be sent and received electronically instantly, instead of having to send paper records from department to department, or from one GP or hospital to another.

9. To maximise the privacy and security of patient records, medical staff will only have access to the information they need. Dentists won't have a full medical history, whilst administrative staff won't need to be able to see exactly what treatment was given and why. This ensures that patient privacy is always a priority.

10. These improvements, as well as the others the NPfIT will introduce, will make receiving treatment easier for patients and mean that healthcare professionals and providers are more efficient and effective.

Now you know more about the NPfIT, and the advantages it will bring to the NHS, perhaps now is the time to see how it will affect your GP, Dentist or hospital.

Discover more about System C, and see how technology is improving healthcare. If you're involved in healthcare, why not see how Electronic Patient Medical Record systems will improve your healthcare service.