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Latest IT articles

New data security requirements for practices
Every GP practice in England will be contractually required to meet new data security standards by April 2018.
IT articles

Understanding the GDPR: Lawful processing of personal data
In the first part of a new series on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Dr Rachel Birch from Medical Protection explains what practices need to know about the legal basis for processing personal data and privacy notices.

What is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
From 25 May 2018 practices will be subject to new data protection regulations. Medeconomics provides an overview of the legislation.

What practices need to do under the GDPR
Both the BMA and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have released guidance on how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into effect on 25 May 2018, will impact on practices.

What are practices' contractual obligations on e-referrals?
As part of the 2018/19 GP contract it will be a contractual requirement for practices to use the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) for all referrals to first consultant-led outpatient appointments from October 2018.

New guides to help people with disabilities access GP online services
NHS England has launched a series of practical guides to support people with sight loss, hearing loss, autism or learning disabilities to use online GP services.

Advice on completing the Information Governance Toolkit
A guide to what practices need to include when completing the Information Governance Toolkit each year.

Tips on data protection
ICO senior policy officer Andrew Rose shared advice on how practices can meet data protection challenges at this year's Practice Managers Association conference.

Guidance for practices following NHS cyber attack
The RCGP and NHS Digital have issued guidance to help practices affected by the cyber attack that shut down NHS services across the country.

Good practice in data security
In a report on data security in the NHS, the CQC has identified good practice across a number of key areas. Medeconomics summarises the regulator's findings.

New data security standards for the NHS
Two major reports suggest changes to the way that NHS organisations handle patient data. Medeconomics explains what this means for practices.

Providing online access to patient records
Practices are contractually required to provide patients with access to their coded information in their patient record online. Fionnuala O'Donnell explains how practices can do this and provides links to useful resources.

General Practice Forward View: How will IT in general practice develop?
The General Practice Forward View sets out big plans for investment in IT in general practice, including a £45m programme to support the uptake of online consultation systems.
Online consultations
How to set up a Skype consultation service
Marc Schmid explains what is involved with setting up video consultations in GP practices. The article includes a downloadable practice protocol and patient information leaflet.
How GP practices are using video consultations
Three case studies highlight how practices are using video consultations to improve patient care and deliver cost savings.
Practice protocol for video consultations: Downloadable Word document
This practice protocol can be downloaded and adapted for use in your practice. It covers organisation and set-up, patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, advice on conducting online consultations and a consultation checklist
Video consultation patient information leaflet and consent form: Downloadable Word document
This patient information leaflet and consent form can be downloaded and adapted for use in your practice. It addresses concerns about security plus the benefits and risks of video consultations.
Conducting online patient consultations
MDU medico-legal adviser Dr Beverley Ward explains what practices must consider if they want to provide online consultations for patients.