[Sheflug] NHS

[Richard Ibbotson <xxxxx [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear All

This probably doesn't mean much but I thought I'd mention it anyway.  
Just got this weeks issue of Computing and at page 17 there's a 
mention about the NHS and open source software.  I always tell them 
that it's about time that they saved money on software so that more 
patients can be looked after  ........

" NHS is well suited to open source
Trusts would be able to share existing in house software

The NHS's most senior IT adviser is encouraging NHS trusts to create 
and use open source software.  The NHS is well suited to shared 
software writing because it comprises many different but 
collaborating organisations says Nigel Bell, Health Service 
Information Authority.

The discussions are starting to move from an academic point of view 
to something more practical, he said.  It is the open source 
development model which has aroused NHS interest rather than products 
such as Linux, says Bell [ mmm .. it's a product is it ?].  Areas 
where it may prove useful include sharing existing in house software 
between trusts and addressing government targets for electronic 
patient records by 2005.  'One of the ways open source can be used is 
in exploiting intellectual property tied up in local solutions', said 
Bell."

www.vnu.co.uk

It goes on a bit further but that's about most of it.    For some 
reason that I can't put my finger on I seem to think that either the 
journalist or Mr Bell aren't quite in touch with something somewhere ?

Thanks


-- 
Richard
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