Information focus - other support

Agencies

Here is a select, alphabetical listing of agencies that provide important resources relating to this clinical governance theme. We have focussed on agencies operating in the United Kingdom.

Online communities and networks

CHAIN (Contact, Help, Advice and Information Networks)
CHAIN is a free, multi-professional online network for people working in health and social care. There are currently four main components: research and evidence-based practice; widening participation in learning; innovation and improvement and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Connecting with nurses
These web pages from NHS Connecting for Health provide support to the nursing communities. Resources and practical help are provided to help nurses engage with new and rapidly changing technologies.

E-health Insider
E-Health Insider is an independent online news and information service dedicated to UK health care information technology. IT industry and NHS professionals can register with the E-Health Insider portal and sign up for its weekly email newsletter.

e-Health Nurses Network
The e-Health Nurses Network is an independent initiative, freely available to all nurses and health care professionals with an interest in developing e-health in order to maximise the professional delivery of effective patient care. The e-Health Network website links to several regional pages including; Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

eSpace Health Informatics Community
The Health Informatics Community has moved to its new home on eSpace. eSpace is the new NHS Connecting for Health online collaboration tool for the NHS. eSpace can facilitate information sharing, communication, collaboration and networking amongst communities.

National programmes

England: Connecting for Health (National Programme for IT)
NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH) is a Department of Health agency which is delivering the National Programme for IT in England. Scotland and Wales have their own independent health services which are developing their own IT programmes,  there is however close co-operation between all of the Health Services in the UK. The NPfIT aims to bring modern information and communication systems into the NHS to improve patient care and services. The site provides guidance on implementation and case studies of implementation in action.

England: Department of Health - Information Policy
This area of the Department of Health website covers the National Programme for IT; Policy Archive; patient confidentiality and access to health records; data quality; information supporting National Service Frameworks (NSFs) and the National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP); information security; information for social care and records management. The patient confidentiality and access to health records sub-section provides information about the underpinning legislation and legal requirements.

Northern Ireland: Information and Communications Technology Strategy
The way forward for Northern Ireland's eHealth and Social Services was published in the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Information and Communications Technology Strategy in March 2005. Northern Ireland is in the process of reforming its public body structures, which will result in a single Health and Social Services Authority. The proposals for future reform of health and social care in Northern Ireland are currently out for consultation. For more information visit: eHealth: priorities and strategies in European countries: Northern Ireland [PDF 193.2KB] [see how to access PDF files]

Scotland: eHealth for NHSScotland
Scotland's eHealth Strategy for 2008-2011 has been launched. The new e-health strategy for Scotland is referred to in the national health care action plan 'Better Health, Better Care'. The eHealth Strategy demonstrates how Scotland 'intends to harness the opportunities of new technology to enhance patient care.'

Wales: NHS Wales: Informing healthcare
Informing Healthcare (IHC) is the National Programme harnessing the potential of information technologies to transform health services for the people of Wales. Its aim is to modernise health service delivery, promoting new ways of working through better access to information and knowledge for shared decision making. Informing Healthcare is one of the key enablers for 'Designed for Life', the national ten year strategy to deliver world class health and social care for Wales. The aim of the IHC Programme is to enable health information to be securely shared between the NHS and Social care. The right health information will be made available to clinicians and patients wherever care needs to be provided.

E-libraries

England: NHS Evidence
The creation of NHS Evidence was announced in June 2008 as part of the High Quality Care for All report from Lord Darzi. The NHS Evidence service aims to provide easy access to a comprehensive evidence base for everyone in health and social care who takes decisions about treatments or the use of resources. The NHS Evidence Health Information Resources website (formerly the National Library for Health) runs in parallel to the NHS Evidence website. Its services will be reviewed following the launch of NHS Evidence. View the NHS Evidence: Health Information Resources

Northern Ireland: Health on the net Northern Ireland (HONNI)
Health on the Net Northern Ireland (HONNI) is a gateway to health information provided by the Medical Library at Queen's University, Belfast. The website provides access to online databases, electronic journals, health care subject gateways and search engines, organisations and associations, general search engines, resource guides and tutorials. An Athens username and password is required in order to access most of these resources from any location. Details of eligibility and how to obtain this are on the website.

Scotland: The Knowledge Network
Formerly NHS Scotland's eLibrary, the Knowledge Network is Scotland's source of knowledge for health and care. The network offers a wide range of resources and services to help users find and share knowledge. It supports evidence-based practice, communication and collaboration by  communities, and access to e-Learning.

Wales: NHS Wales e-library for health
The NHS Wales e-library allows access to a range of resources including databases, evidence based resources, guidelines, ejournals and ebooks. There is a site map and an A-Z list guiding users to the full extent of resources available. Authorised NHS Wales users will need to register for an Athens password in order to use these. Details of how to register for this are on the website.

Information governance

England: National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care
The National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care (NIGB) provides leadership and promotes consistent standards for information governance across health and social care. The NIGB has taken over some of the responsibilities of the Care Record Development Board, which closed in 2007.

England: NHS Connecting for Health: Information Governance
This section includes information on key areas such as information policy for health and social care, IG standards for National Programme for IT systems and development of guidance for NHS and partner organisations.

Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent public body set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information. The ICO provides guidance on data protection and freedom of information for practitioners, in order to promote compliance with the law and the following of good practice.

Northern Ireland: Consultation on Code of Practice on Protecting the Confidentiality of Service User Information The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) consultation - closed on 9 November 2007.

Scotland: NHS Scotland Information Governance
The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) asked NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to establish an Information Governance programme for NHS Scotland. The information governance framework will bring together all the statutory requirements, standards and best practice that apply to the handling of information. ISD Scotland (Information Services Division) has set up a formal work programme to develop, implement and take the framework forward.

Scotland: NHS Scotland Confidentiality and Data Protection
This website contains information on the ways in which NHS Scotland protects the personal data that it needs to use to deliver health care. The site contains useful reference materials but is not regularly updated as it is now linked to the NHSScotland's Information Governance e-Library.

Wales: Data protection and confidentiality.
The Health Commission Wales (HCW) is committed to ensuring that the Data Protection Act and Caldicott principles are considered in all aspects of its work.

Wales: NHS Wales - Information governance
This section on Information governance is part of an e-Manual designed to assist NHS organisations in Wales develop robust governance and assurance arrangements that meet the standards of good governance set for all public services in Wales

Wales: Wales Accord for the Sharing of Personal Information (WASPI)
The Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information was issued by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2006 and is designed for organisations involved in the health and social well being of the people of Wales, including statutory, private and voluntary sector organisations. The Wales Accord is a framework that enables services providing and other organisations directly concerned with the well-being of an individual to regularly share information in a lawful and intelligent way.

Information and intelligence services

Dr Foster Intelligence
Dr Foster Intelligence aims to improve the quality and efficiency of health and social care through improved use of information. It is a partnership between the Health and Social Care Information Centre (an NHS Special Health Authority) and Dr Foster, a commercial provider of health care information. The website provides access to a range of products and services including web-based tools, success stories and reports.

Health of Wales Information Service (HOWIS)
HOWIS provides detailed and comprehensive information resources on the health and lifestyle of the population of Wales. It provides a single online point of access to a range of services for the NHS Wales, including, the NHS Wales Directory, Health Watchdog, health statistics and publications, public health information, jobs and careers, and health news and events listings. Access is also provided to the NHS Wales e-library for health.

ISD Scotland
Information Services Division (ISD) is Scotland's national organisation for health information, statistics and IT services. ISD provides support to NHSScotland and the Scottish Executive Health Department.

NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre
The Health and Social Care Information Centre was set up in 2005 to co-ordinate and streamline the collection and sharing of health and adult social care data. The Information Centre sets standards for best practice between service users and those who are interested in reports on NHS performance. These include the public and regulatory bodies such as the Healthcare Commission.

NHS Inform
NHS Inform is a national health information service for Scotland providing a coordinated approach and a single source of quality assured health information.