NURSES and therapists working in remote areas will soon be able to access information on patients 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, thanks to a revolutionary new system.
Twenty-one workers at Worcester Community and Mental Health NHS Trust are being given the latest in mobile technology as part of a pilot scheme.
The Trust has been working in conjunction with BT Health and iSOFT to set up the GPRS system, which will allow them access to patient information from wherever they are.
Each member of staff will be will be issued with laptop computers linked to the main Trust Patient Information Management System via the new BT Cellnet GPRS network.
The system will let them access and update patient information and files on the Trust's network, send and receive e-mails and access the internet when working remotely.
Healthcare workers will now gain valuable time by not having to visit a surgery or the Trust to find patient information, or access their e-mail and the internet connections.
Other workers will also be able to access the information immediately.
"Not only does the GPRS pilot scheme offer staff access to Trust files 24 hours a day and seven days a week, but the increased efficiency it brings will save on man hours and money, which we will be able to re-deploy elsewhere," said Ian McGregor, of Worcestershire Community and Mental Health Trust.
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