12:50pm Sunday 16th March 2008
By Jane Lavender
A COMPUTER system, which is being piloted in Bolton, could save the NHS more than £1 billion by 2014.
The National Programme for IT, which includes the Summary Care Record, a scheme where patient records are stored online and can be accessed by health professionals across the country, is saving the money because it has increased efficiency.
The programme includes Choose and Book, an electronic system used for booking hospital appointments, the Summary Care Record, electronic prescriptions and fast network links between NHS organisations.
In Bolton the Summary Care Record has been controversial, with some GPs expressing concerns about confidentiality.
It contains basic patient details, such as details about current medication, allergies and existing medical conditions.
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