IFMH Inform: Volume 10, Number 1

From the Editor

Now I realise that national, political events don't quite compare with the changes undergone by the IFM Committee.  However!  The focus of this issue is the changing face of the NHS during the first two years of the new Labour government.  Veronica Fraser leads us in with an overview of the stream of official publications heralding the NHS changes.  Our other contributors pick up on some of the key themes and policies, highlighting the significant role to be played by information and the consequent implications and opportunities for information services.

My colleague from ScHARR, Andrew Booth gives us, sadly, the last of his regular updates of the recent, relevant literature.  (Voluntarily Sidelined I hasten to add.  I haven't been wielding any editorial power!).  Other new and regular Inform contributions will appear in future issues as your new editors find their feet!

Suzy Paisley
Inform editor

CONTENTS:

Information for Health,
Veronica Fraser, NHS Library Adviser, Department of Health
Veronica Fraser examines the government's recent information initiatives, including Information for Health, NHSnet and the National electronic Library for Health, and asks where the health care librarian fits into all this.

Only connect: the National electronic Library for Health (NeLH)
J A Muir Gray CBE MD FRCP (Glas&Lond), Project Director - National electronic Library for Health
Muir Gray describes the NeLH and explains some of the implications for librarians.

Establishing Primary Care Groups
Steve Rose, Information Officer, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester
Steve Rose explains the organisation of PCGs and the challenges that lie ahead for librarians and information professionals in influencing the success of PCGs.

NICE: What should we think so far?
Nick Payne, Consultant Senior Lecturer in Public Health Medicine, School of Health and Related Research, Sheffield University
What is NICE for and how will it operate?  Nick Payne answers these questions in this article, explaining clearly and concisely the functions of the Institute and its sequence of work.

NHS Direct
Bob Gann, Director, NHS Direct Hampshire
Bob Gann provides the objectives of the NHS Direct project and explains how these are being met through the various waves of pilots.  He goes on to show in detail how this has worked in Hampshire.

Sidelines: a selection of recent articles of interest to information professionals
[The big goodbye]
Andrew Booth, Director of Information Resources, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield
Andrew Booth's final Sidelines is an article not to be missed.

IFM news

Study day report: Database Query?: An IFM Healthcare Study Day (see page 16)
Audrey Cobb, Senior Library Assistant, Learning Resources Centre, High Royds Hospital, Ilkley
 
 

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