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:
**Compiled December 2006**
Latest news - The Central Office for Information
recently launched its progress report on Transformational Government:
enabled by technology with the news that at least 551 government
websites are to be cut to make access to information easier for
citizens and businesses.
Press release here:
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=255357&NewsAreaID=2
Full list of suggested websites available here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6252929.stm
Transformational Government web pages:
http://www.cio.gov.uk/transformational_government/index.asp
New websites/Internet resources of interest
1)
Action On Stigma [Shift]
http://www.shift.org.uk/employment.html
Shift is a five year initiative (2004-2009) in England
to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues.
Shift and the Department of Health launched a new initiative on World
Mental Health Day, 10th October, called Action on Stigma. This
initiative is for people with an interest in reducing the stigma and
discrimination directed towards people in the workplace. Shift is
part of the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE).
2)
British Medical Association [BMA] Who’s Who In Healthcare
http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/Hubwhoswhoinhealthcare
This glossary is the first stage in a project being
undertaken by the BMA's Patient Liaison Group which aims to ensure
that the public is better informed about the healthcare professionals
who provide care in the NHS. The second stage of the project will
develop guidance for general practices, and hospital clinics and
departments, on giving patients and carers adequate information about
the professionals providing care in their service. Any suggestions or
amendments regarding its content are welcomed by emailing
info.science@bma.org.uk.
3)
Choices In Mental Health [CSIP]
http://www.mhchoice.csip.org.uk/
The Care Services
Improvement Partnerships (CSIP) Choice and Psychological Therapies
Programmes website aims to give information on how CSIP is working to
get more choice available for all people who use mental health
services, and how they are seeking to improve access to psychological
therapies. There are specific sections on the choice and
psychological therapies programmes, access to supporting resources and
documents. The site is in the process of redevelopment.
4)
Healthcare Commission - Independent Sector Assessment Section
[also your local health care]
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?cit_id=4891&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=false
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/yourlocalhealthservices.cfm
The Healthcare Commission has launched a new web
service that provides information about performance in independent
acute hospitals, mental health units and independent sector treatment
centres. People can search the information by provider name or by
postcode, as well as by standard. [The 32 standards are not the same
as the ones that apply to the NHS but they do cover broadly similar
issues]. The commission plans to work with patients, public and the
independent sector to further develop the information available.
5) NHS
Benchmarking Database
http://www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=734&Itemid=320/
NHS National Workforce Projects have developed the NHS Benchmarking
Database - tool, designed to provide a one stop access point to a
range of acute sector and PCT NHS data sources.
It enables comparisons to be made between PCTs and NHS trusts
using a variety of factors. The site also includes access to resources
relating to various aspects of workforce planning and a user guide.
6) NICE
- Shared Learning Database
http://www.nice.org.uk/sharedlearning
This database from NICE is an initiative to share
examples of how organisations have successfully put NICE guidance into
practice. There is a quality assurance process to ensure that records
are of a suitable standard, and each record will stay on the database
for two years.
7)
NICE - Evaluation And Review Of NICE Implementation Evidence (ERNIE)
Database
http://www.nice.org.uk/ernie
The ERNIE
database aims to be a source of information on the implementation and
uptake of NICE guidance providing: a bank of guidance-specific
NICE
implementation uptake reports
NICE implementation uptake reports
produced in house; references to external literature, and a
simple classification system summarising the uptake of NICE guidance.
NICE has implemented a number of mechanisms, systems and procedures to
support ERNIE.
8) No
Delay Achievers
http://www.nodelaysachiever.nhs.uk/
The No Delays Achiever is a web-based service
improvement tool that presents NHS Trusts data in charts and also
provides access to service improvement advice. The updated version
contains a wider range of information, improved navigation and
presentation. Some of these resources are limited to NHS Trusts, such
as the patient journey analyzer, while others, such as, the case
studies and the jargon buster are freely available.
9) PCT
Contacts List [NHS Networks]
http://www.networks.nhs.uk/allpcts
The NHS Networks contact list for all the PCTs in
England has been updated. Every PCT should now have, an address, a
functioning website, a main telephone number, a Chair and a Chief
Executive.
10)
Horizon Scanning Tools
http://www.foresight.gov.uk/horizonscanning/
In its
Science and Innovation Investment Framework
2004-2014,
the Government committed to establishing a Centre of Excellence in
Horizon Scanning, to be based in the Foresight Directorate of the
Office of Science and Innovation. One of its three work streams is to
undertake regular cross-Government strategy horizon scans, to underpin
existing horizon scanning and inform cross-Government priorities,
including health. The Horizon Scanning Centre has commissioned two
complementary scans looking ahead up to 50 years: the Sigma Scan and
the Delta Scan. Initial versions of both scans have been published by
the contractors who developed them:
http://www.sigmascan.org/ by Outsights - Ipsos MORI and
www.deltascan.org
by the Institute for the Future (IFTF).
http://humanitieslab.stanford.edu/2/Home
11)
Open Learn
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/
OpenLearn is a major new open content initiative from
the Open University. It offers educational resources for learners and
educators freely via the Internet. Supported by a grant from the
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, it will cover a full range of
subjects from arts and history to science and nature, at all study
levels from access to postgraduate.
12)
Primary Care Genetics Society
http://www.pcgs.org.uk/
The Primary Care Genetics Society (PCGS) is a new
organisation established to support primary care professionals
(PCPs). The primary aim of the Society is to support and facilitate
the educational needs of PCPs to help translate the continuing
advances in clinical genetics into practice. The website is still in
the early stages of development.
13)
Public TV [Beta]
http://www.public.tv/
Currently a beta site from Ten Alps Digital, Public TV currently gives
free access to government, public sector, professional training, and
business videos across a range of areas, including health. It aims to
launch the full site in February 2007. Users are able to browse and
view a live stream of the video without having to pay or register
personal details. They do however need to register for extra
functionality.
Health section
http://www.public.tv/categories.php?CID=9&Title=Health
14 )
Smokefree England
http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/
Contains details of
smoke free legislation around the world, case studies from this
country and various other resources including a sub-site, giving
advice on giving up smoking:
Go smoke free
http://www.gosmokefree.co.uk/
15)
Specialist Library For Ethnicity And Health
http://www.library.nhs.uk/ethnicity/
This library aims to provide the best currently
available evidence about the specific needs of health care for
minority ethnic groups. Resources are listed under four main
headings: diseases and conditions; service delivery; cultural
competence and management and policy.
16)
Specialist Library For Public & Patient Involvement
http://www.library.nhs.uk/ppi/
This Library aims to support the implementation of
patient, user, carer and public involvement in health care. Resources
are grouped under: introduction to PPI; PPI in practice; care groups;
education for PPI and organisations supporting PPI.
17)
Specialist Library For Surgery, Theatres And Anaesthesia
http://www.library.nhs.uk/theatres/
This library aims to provide the latest quality assured
evidence-based guidance and useful websites for all theatre staff
supporting the patient through peri-operative care. Resources are
grouped into: guidance and pathways; references, education/CPD and
patient information.
18)
Statute Law Database
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/
The UK Statute
Law Database (SLD) is the official revised edition of the primary
legislation of the United Kingdom made available online. The content
of SLD is available for viewing and private use free of charge, but
please see the
Crown Copyright
notice for further information about re-use of the data. The site
also offers facilities to: view amended legislation as it has changed
over time; see how legislation will be affected by amendments not yet
in force; see how legislation has been amended for different
jurisdictions; navigate links between affecting and affected
legislation, and search the text of legislation for words and phrases.
19) UK Clinical Research
Network [UKCRN]
http://www.ukcrn.org.uk/index.html
The UK Clinical Research Network is working to develop and strengthen
NHS infrastructure to support the delivery of clinical research in the
UK. This website gives details and links to the work of the
constituent research networks and other useful resources.
Updated/Revised
websites
NHS
Direct
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
The website has been revamped, including the local
services section.
PROQOLID [Patient-Reported Outcome And Quality Of Life Instruments
Database]
http://www.proqolid.org/
Newly redesigned, the PROQOLID database, developed by
Mapi Research Institute
and managed by
Mapi
Research Trust (Lyon, France), offers freely available
information, as well as a subscription service. It aims to identify
and describe PRO and QOL instruments to help you choose appropriate
instruments and facilitate your access to them.
Social
Care Online
http://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/default.asp
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses [especially commissioned for
Social Care Online] have now been added to the website.
National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm
In October 2006, The National Archives merged with The
Office of Public Sector Information. In December it launched a new
homepage for its site, after consultation with its users. This aims
to highlight key areas of interest within the website and improve
links from the homepage to relevant content. All content and
navigation throughout the rest of the site remains unchanged at
present. Next year they will consult further before a wider redesign
process begins.
British
Library
http://www.bl.uk/
The British Library has also redesigned its home page,
aiming to provide improved searching of their web resources.
Back to Inform 17 (3)
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