Surf's Up - Internet sites of interest
Caron Hartley
Research Librarian
Kings Fund Information and
Library Service
Email:
Anthea Sutton
Information Officer (Reviews and Special
Projects)
ScHARR
Email:
1) New sites
Best Treatments
http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/
Best Treatments is published by
the BMJ, and presents information from Clinical Evidence for
patients. It aims to provide patients with evidence of which
treatments work for particular conditions. The site can be searched,
or browsed by condition. There are two areas to the site, “Patients”
and “Doctors”. The “Doctors” area links to the Clinical Evidence
site. There is a “Decision Support” page that contains patient guides
on evidence-based medicine. There is also a section about operations
and tests, to help patients understand procedures.
Choose and Book
http://www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/
Choose and Book is the new name
for the electronic booking programme, which is a core part of the
National Programme for IT. Choose and Book enables patients to choose
a convenient date, time and place for their initial hospital
appointment. This dedicated Web site provides NHS clinicians and
managers with a range of resources on the programme.
Directgov
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en
Directgov contains a wide range
of government information and services. The site can be searched, or
browsed by audience group or topic. The section on “Health and
well-being” provides links to NHS direct and local health services,
has advice and support and information on NHS charges. The site also
provides links to government directories.
Dr Foster Hospital Guide
This new resource provides
information on services and standards in hospitals throughout the UK.
Its purpose is to help patients and their GPs find the best possible
hospital care available. The information can be accessed by hospital
name, postcode or area. For each hospital, there are details of the
specialities covered, waiting times, facilities and services, and how
well the hospital meets best practice guidelines and targets.
Engaging Communities Learning
Network
This resource
is new to the NatPaCT site and is the Web site for the Engaging
Communities Learning Network (ECLN). The ECLN helps Primary Care
Trusts engage with local people and frontline staff by sharing ideas,
developing the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and involving
both public and staff in decision-making. The Web site includes
latest news, feedback from events, and a discussion forum.
Freedom of Information
http://www.foi.gov.uk/
This government
Web site has been launched to help public bodies prepare for the
introduction of the Freedom of Information Act on 1 January 2005. The
Web site, developed for the Department of Constitutional Affairs,
contains all the relevant information for compliance. The site
contains guidance on planning and training for administrative staff,
advice on the best IT systems to purchase and all relevant codes of
practice.
Futurebuilders
http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/
The government
has launched a £125 million investment fund that aims to increase the
role that the voluntary and community sector plays in the delivery of
public services. The fund is divided into five themes, one of which
is health and social care. The Web site includes information on the
scheme, how to apply, news and FAQs.
Monitor - Independent Regulator of Foundation Trusts
Monitor is the independent
corporate body responsible for authorising, monitoring and regulating
NHS Foundation Trusts. Monitor receives and considers applications
from NHS Trusts seeking foundation status. The Web site contains
information about the work of Monitor and holds the Public Register of
NHS Foundation Trusts.
NeLH Emergency Care Specialist Library
http://rms.nelh.nhs.uk/emergency/
The NeLH Emergency Care
Specialist Library has been launched. It aims to provide high quality
information on all aspects of emergency healthcare including both
clinical and organisational issues.
NHS
Information Revolution
www.nhs.uk/informationrevolution
This is a new
central reference point for health professionals that introduces
current and forthcoming communications tools delivering the NHS
Information Revolution, including NHS Direct Digital TV and
forthcoming health guides for older people - Prime for Men and
Prime for Women.
Organisational Development
http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/cms/213.php
This is a new
area of the NatPaCT Web site dedicated to Organisational Development
(OD), which offers the opportunity to discuss issues relating to OD.
The Web site also has links to relevant resources.
Pharmacy
http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/cms/301.php
Another new area of the NatPaCT
Web site, which brings together information and resources to provide
support on aspects of pharmacy, medicines management and prescribing.
It aims to help understand and implement the new contractual framework
for community pharmacy services.
Primary Care Contracting
This new official Web site
portal brings together all the relevant information and resources to
help understand and implement the new primary care contracting
arrangements and use them in the wider modernisation of primary care
services. It has been developed jointly by the NHS Modernisation
Agency (NatPact) and Department of Health, in association with the
National Primary Care Development Team. It has links to all other
relevant Web sites and resources and is updated on a weekly basis.
Primary Dental Care Contracting
http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/cms/294.php
Part of the NatPaCT Web site,
this brings together information and resources about understanding and
implementing the new primary dental care contracting arrangements and
use them in the wider modernisation of primary care services.
Rethinkcarers
http://www.rethinkcarers.org
Rethinkcarers is a new Web site
for mental health carers. The Web site has been designed with carer’s
involvement and builds on the work of Rethink severe mental illness
groups and services around the country. Rethinkcarers provides
reliable information based on the experience of carers and a virtual
community for them to share those experiences.
2) Changes
to existing sites
Asthma UK
http://www.asthma.org.uk/
The National Asthma Campaign is
now Asthma UK.
BIOME
http://biome.ac.uk/
BIOME has introduced some
changes to their search interface. These changes include a new
wildcard feature and the ability to sort results by a range of
options.
Clinical
Evidence
http://www.clinicalevidence.com/
The Clinical
Evidence Web site has been relaunched. In response to user feedback
the site has been redeveloped to make it easier to use.
Department of Health Web Site Survey
http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p1223495.aspx
The Department
of Health is conducting a survey of the DH Web site. The aim is to
find out the views of users of the new DH Web site in order to plan
future site developments.
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/idtb/
The Internet version of Drug and
Therapeutics Bulletin (iDTB) is now available via the National
electronic Library for Health (NeLH). Users require an NHS Athens
password to access the resource. iDTB provides access to an archive
of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) plus all of the Treatment
Notes series, which are patient leaflets based on original DTB
articles.
electronic
Library for Social Care
http://www.elsc.org.uk/
The Centre for
Policy on Ageing’s AgeInfo Database can now be accessed through eLSC,
free of charge.
Healthcare
Commission
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/Homepage/fs/en
The Healthcare
Commission has replaced the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI).
Health Care
Standards Unit (incorporating the Controls Assurance Support
Unit)
The Controls Assurance Support
Unit is now the Health Care Standards Unit (HCSU) and has taken on a
new role, having responsibility for maintaining and evaluating the
Department of Health’s Standards for Better Health in a national and
international context.
National Library for Health
http://www.library.nhs.uk
The holding page for the
National Library for Health (NLH) has been updated. The site
now includes links to a range of resources that give information on
the development of NLH, including a report from the colloquium that
was held in February, the NLH Programme Plan and NLH Deliverables.
NatPaCT
http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/news/index.php?article_request=871
NatPaCT has introduced a new
look to celebrate the site’s second birthday. New features include,
help pages, a guide to how NatPaCT is supporting PCTs, and improved
printing results.
NHS Gateway
http://www.nhs.uk/
The homepage of www.nhs.uk has
become a gateway entry page for the public looking for information
about the NHS. Using extensive public feedback from nhs.uk, NHS Direct
Online, National Electronic Library for Health and Department of
Health, the new look gateway page has been designed to provide
wide-ranging but easy access to NHS information and services.
NHS Jobs
http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
This online
recruitment service has launched nationally after a successful trial.
A daily total of approximately 500 jobs are displayed.
NICE
http://www.nice.org.uk/
The National
Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Web site has been redesigned
to make guidance on treatments and care in the NHS more accessible.
Following feedback from healthcare professionals, patients and staff,
the site now has an improved search facility.
Protocols and Care Pathways Database
An updated version of the Care
Pathways Database has launched, in response to user feedback. The
content of the current database has been revised and updated, with
better descriptive information. Searching will be improved and the
contacts information has been updated and verified. This new version
is incorporated into the NeLH Resource Management System, so that the
database will appear as a NeLH Specialist Library.
Public Health electronic Library
http://www.phel.gov.uk/
A new version of the Public
Health electronic Library (PHeL) has gone live. Improvements include
new content, updated design and functionality, such as: enhanced links
to the National Electronic Library for Health, monthly email updates,
and a new developments section to alert public health professionals to
emerging work by others in their field.
Back to Inform 15 (2)
| 
