Information technology
Information technology (IT) has already changed the working practices of healthcare professionals and the care provided to patients. However, over the next five to ten years there will be developments in IT which will have a significant impact on the NHS.
This section of the BMA website aims to bring together the BMA's guidance, views and policy on NHS IT.
If you have a query or wish to share your views on NHS IT, please email: info.nhs-it@bma.org.uk.
Guidance for doctors on access to health records under the Data Protection Act 1998 and on access to health records of deceased patients.
Access to health records by patientsElectronic patient records, January 2008
Contrary to reports in the national media the BMA has not produced a pro forma letter for patients wishing to opt out of the national electronic patient record database.Information technology glossary
A glossary of information technology terms intended to aid those new to the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) in understanding the terms and acronyms used in BMA and NHS Connecting for Health documents.BMA evidence to the House of Commons Health Select Committee inquiry into the electronic patient record
The BMA submission to the Health Select Committee inquiry, March 2007, explaining the BMA position which underlines the association's concerns about the electronic patient record.Guidelines on access to medical reports
Guidance for doctors on the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 and Access to Personal Files and Medical Reports (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 which give patients rights in respect of reports written about them for employment or insurance purposes by the applicant’s GP or a specialist who has provided care, including an occupational health doctor.BMA evidence to the House of Commons - 'A surveillance society', April 2007
The BMA's submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee outlining comments on the Department of Health's planned NHS Care Record Service, which will give access to the medical and care records of patients across different NHS organisations.Focus on choice of nationally accredited systems, February 2004
This guidance note has been produced by the General Practitioners Committee to help GPs and Local Medical Committees understand the entitlement of GPs to a choice of nationally accredited computer systems under the new GMS contract.Focus on funding for Information management and technology - 3rd update, April 2004
This is the 3rd guidance note produced by the General Practitioners Committee to help GPs and Local Medical Committees understand the funding arrangements for Information management and technology under the new GMS contractSystem choice - guidance for GP practices from the GPC and RCGP, September 2004
The guidance on system choice includes the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), the joint GPC/RCGP joint IT committee (JGPITC), general practice IT systems under the new GMS contract, the National Audit Office reviewing NPfIT, progress on extending existing systems to include GP2GP and integrated future LSP offerings.General practitioner's reports (GPR) - BMA/Association of British Insurers
This package has been jointly developed by the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI), and will make it easier for doctors to provide information to their patients’ insurance companies.Making information technology work for junior doctors
Information systems have not kept up with the changes in juniors' working patterns, potentially putting patients at risk. Several key functions need to be addressed such as a robust mechanism for information flow across increasingly complex working patterns, reduced hours through improved efficiency and support of education and training within a shorter working week. This document explores these themes and highlights the critical role that the NHS information strategy must play in this.Medical information and insurance
This joint guidance has been drawn up by the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to set out best practice and practical advice on the use of medical information in insurance. It is primarily designed for general practitioners and other doctors who are asked to provide medical information to insurance companies.Remotely held records and centralised servers, February 2002
This guidance highliglhts the principles of remotely maintained records and includes details regarding custodianship, access, patient consent, withdrawal, data conversion, encryption, security of connections and virus protection.
Useful links to IT websites
Links to useful sources of information on information technologyRead more here