RCN response to NHS Information Strategy

Published: 21 May 2012

Responding to the Department of Health’s newly published information strategy, “the Power of Information: Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need”, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

"The RCN today welcomes the publication of the NHS information strategy and its aim to put patients more in control of their healthcare journey. The aspiration to use IT to create a more joined up, safer approach to care is entirely welcome and will do much to serve the overall goal around increased integration between health and social care.

“In order for this strategy to be successfully implemented, it is vital the NHS has the buy in of its staff and that they are fully included in the process. The RCN is keen to see nurses playing an active role in the commissioning of new clinical systems and new technology around telehealth for example. All systems must communicate and work well together and information should be able to flow in a secure, but understandable way. The introduction of a system that is in anyway bureaucratic or cumbersome will not improve patient care and could end up costing the NHS money it can ill afford to spend. Equally, it is vital that there is a mechanism in place to ensure that we do not see a repetition of mistakes from previous projects.”

Notes for Editors

1 For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2 The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.