Latest News
April Newsletter now published
See the latest newsletter with details of UKCHIP activities and response to recent news stories, where to find out more about the latest changes to the NHS, events, conferences and European HI news.
12 April 2013
The New Health and Care System Explained
With the new health and care system becoming fully operational from 1 April, the Department of Health has published "The Health and Care System Explained". Click the image to go to an interactive diagram which illustrates the statutory bodies that make up the new system, oriented around people and communities and where they receive their local health and care services. Clicking on any of the organisations will provide more information about their specific role.
2nd April 2013
The new home on the web for the Department of Health
The Department of Health is the latest central government organisation to move its corporate and policy content onto the Gov.UK. The website is the new single home for all government services and information.
All web addresses are being redirected, so you don’t need to update your bookmarks, but you might want to make a note of the new address:
Department of Health - www.gov.uk/dh
28 March 2013
New Information & Social Care Information Centre
From 1 April, a new the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will be established as a new Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (ENDPB). This new organisation will incorporate functions from the existing HSCIC, IT systems delivery functions currently undertaken by NHS Connecting for Health and Strategic Health Authority informatics functions.
More is explained in the February edition of IC Knowledge which says "the organisation will be a ground-breaking data, information and technology resource for the health and care system and will play a fundamental role in driving better care, better services and better outcomes for patients. It will be the trusted source of authoritative data and information relating to health and care. It will support the delivery of IT infrastructure, information systems and standards to ensure information flows efficiently and securely across the health and social care system to improve patient outcomes.
Interim Chair Candy Morris and Chief Executive Alan Perkins have been appointed to ensure that the interests of the new HSCIC are safeguarded during the transition from the current organisational arrangements to the new organisation."
The role of the HSCIC is explained further here.
28 February 2013
PSA launch scheme for Accreditation of Voluntary Registers
Yesterday at the House of Commons, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb MP launched the Professional Standards Authority scheme for the accreditation of voluntary registers. The scheme, which UKCHIP has helped to develop over the past two years, vets and approves registers of health and social care practitioners.
Norman Lamb said:
"Good care comes from good people. But if you're an employer or a member of the public who employs an unregulated professional, you need to be able to find people who are committed to the highest professional standards. The AVR scheme is an excellent way of doing that.
The scheme will be a benchmark of high professional standards and good practice. And because of that, it will give people faith in the staff they employ, enhance the reputation of practitioners and, crucially, raise standards across the board."
Harry Cayton, PSA Chief Executive said:
"The scheme offers enhanced protection to anyone looking for health and care services. It gives practitioners the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment by joining a register dedicated to improving standards."
Accreditation does not imply that the PSA has assessed the merits of individuals on the register; this remains the responsibility of the organisation holding the register. Accreditation means that the organisation's register meets the PSA's high standards in governance, standard-setting, education and training management, complaints and information. See more at the PSA website.
As the voluntary registration body for all health informatics professionals in the UK, UKCHIP has already started to prepare its application for accreditation.
14 February 2013
UKCHIP Newsletter February
The February newsletter can be viewed and downloaded from here.
11 February 2013
Update on the Health Informatics Career Framework (HICF)
The latest, enhanced version of the Health Informatics Career Framework (HICF) is now available to anyone with an internet connection (previously only NHS intranet).
It can be accessed via the established HICF web address: www.hicf.org.uk.
The HICF can help individuals with career planning and managers/organisations with workforce planning, development and redesign and includes additional tools to aid individuals and managers in these areas. It now contains 120+ job roles, at least 75% of which have generic job descriptions attached, additional case studies, as well as qualifications and learning databases. It has proved to be particularly useful to colleagues going through transition and reorganisation, as many are using it to plan their future health informatics workforce.
This version of the HICF contains many improvements, including the addition of a new login facility that enables users to access additional tools, save work and bookmark items. A short user guide is available for downloading and an introductory video has also been developed which provides an overview of the enhanced HICF.; both are available in the Resources section of the HICF website.
2 January 2013
Patients and Information Directors appointed to the NHS CB
THE NHS Commissioning Board has made four appointments to complete the director-level recruitment to the Patients & Information Directorate.
- John Coulthard (formerly Senior Director, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Microsoft UK) has been appointed Director of Customer Relations
- Beverley Bryant (currently Managing Director, Capita Health Division) has been appointed Director of Strategic Systems and Technology
- Geraint Lewis (currently Senior Director, Outcomes and Analytics, Walgreens) has been appointed Director of Open Information
- Samantha Riley (currently Director of Information for Service Improvement, The Quality Observatory, NHS South of England) has been appointed Director of Insight
Tim Kelsey, National Director for Patients and Information said:
“The NHS exists to save and improve lives. This means we have to transform the way we use information and technology so that everybody can make the right decisions at the right time and so that, at all times, the voice of the patient and the public is heard when health and social care services are designed and delivered. I’m delighted that we have secured such talented people to work in the Patients and Information team and lead the transformation of transparency and participation in health and social care.”
13 November 2012
New Appointments to UKCHIP Council
The following individuals have recently been appointed as new members of Council. They took up their posts at the Annual General Meeting held on 24th October.
Dr Glyn Hayes and Prof Stephen Kay have also been re-appointed to Council.
Thanks and best wishes go to the retiring members of Council; Dr Beverley Ellis, Roz Foad, Dr Philip Scott and Dr Paul Shannon
31 October 2012
Nurses triumph at E-Health Insider Awards 2012
The Leadership for Informed Practice programme, led by Dr Susan Hamer, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, and Anne Cooper, National Clinical Lead for Nursing, have won the eHealth Insider Chief Clinical Information Officer award for clinical IT leadership.
Susan says: "I'm delighted that the Leadership for Informed Practice programme has been recognised for its role in helping to develop clinical IT leadership. Almost 300 nurses from across England and Northern Ireland took part in the programme, and this award demonstrates how important IT clinical leadership is across the wider NHS. The eHealth Insider awards recognise excellence in healthcare IT across organisations and projects in the public and private sector. It was a real privilege to receive the award – and was only possible due to a team of nurses from across the NHS who helped facilitate the sessions.”
Anne says: "I am delighted to see nursing and midwifery represented on the IT stage in the recognition that nursing informatics is important for the future in the way we deliver care for patients and enable staff to work effectively.”
National Clinical Director Dr Charles Gutteridge adds: "This award is great news and recognition for the work Susan and Anne have done, a great example of clinical leadership helping to deliver health informatics in the community and in the world of hospitals and clinical practice."
8 October 2012
Updated Guidance for Applicants now available
The downloadable guide to the registration application process has been updated and is available here.
23 September 2012
A new series of short e-learning sessions is now available at no cost for NHS staff.
‘Informed’ is aimed at those who are just moving into health informatics and can be used as part of an induction programme. It is also useful for anyone who wants to find out more about the essential role informatics plays in all areas of health and care.
The course is made up of five sessions (about 30 minutes each):
- Introduction to health informatics
- Introduction to health and care
- Improving the quality and safety of care through health informatics
- The management and funding of health and care services
- Primary and secondary uses of data in health and care
All the sessions are stand-alone and can be viewed separately or as part of the full course. The introductory session can be viewed by anyone without the need to sign in.
The course is hosted on the DH e-Learning for Healthcare website at www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/inf or go to www.e-lfh.org.uk and look under the Projects menu for ‘Health Informatics’.
17 Aug 2012
Appointment of NHSCB National Director: Patient Insight in England confirmed
Tim Kelsey has been confirmed as the new new National Director for Patients and Information in the NHS Commissioning Board. Press release.
Katie Davis will step down as Managing Director for NHS Informatics but will work with Mr Kelsey in short a transitionary period.
During the recruitment for the post, NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson told UKCHIP; "We absolutely agree with you that it will be essential to have a professional, skilled and competent health informatics workforce to support the delivery of the Government’s policies for health and social care. We would expect the successful candidate to be the champion of those working in the health informatics profession”.
9 July 2012
NHS Commissioning Board launches NHS Change Model
A model has been created to support the NHS to adopt a shared approach to leading change and transformation. It brings together collective improvement knowledge and experience from across the NHS into eight key components. For more details go to www.changemodel.nhs.uk
28 June 2012
The Future of Informatics for the NHS in England
The Department of Health has published a report which sets out the future structure and function of informatics in England. A copy may be downloaded here.
26 June 2012
Free UKCHIP Affiliate Registration Offer for BCS ASSIST members
As a result of our partnership arrangement with BCS ASSIST, UKCHIP is continuing to offer free affiliate registration (normally £20) to all BCS ASSIST members. This is an excellent stepping stone for individuals who have yet to register with UKCHIP and are interested in professional certification and registration.
Applicants just need to complete the application form agreeing to the code of conduct and carrying out CPD and provide a copy of their CV. More details.
UKCHIP Affiliate registration:
- Demonstrates your commitment to making health informatics an accredited profession;
- Shows you have signed up to the code of conduct and undertake regular CPD;
- Allows you influence the development of the registration body and professional standards of competence and conduct in health informatics.
If you are already a member of BCS ASSIST and want to apply for free affiliate registration with UKCHIP, please email admin@ukchip.net.
19 June 2012
North West Informatics Skills Development Network
In November 2011, the North West ISD Network was launched with the aim of raising the capacity and capability of all informatics staff across the region. The network is modelled on a similar, long standing network for finance staff which was actively supported by all local Directors of Finance and who were supportive of the development of a similar network for informatics staff. Each of the 73 organisations in the region has identified an Informatics Skills Development Lead who is responsibile for co-ordinating and developing all informatics learning and development activity across their informatics community. Further details of the network can be found at www.isdnorthwest.nhs.uk.
In early 2012, UKCHIP was commissioned to undertake an initial evaluation of the development of the North West ISD network. The report has been approved and is now available to download here.
15 June 2012
Professional Development Vital for CCIOs
Future clinical information leaders need in-depth support and career development to fully realise their potential. This was a key message at the first, joint EHI / BCS CCIO Symposium held in May in support of the CCIO Leaders Network.
UKCHIP Council member Di Millen, Head of Workforce Development and Professionalism at DH Informatics Directorate, said it was part of a move to get doctors, nurses and other clinicians to take a more “holistic approach” to patient data, focusing on analysing data on outcomes, identifying at risk patients, and population-level health. “Clinicians have got to be able to analyse data and they need to be trained in data management and analysis,” said Millen.
A more detailed report can be found here.
7 June 2012
Information Strategy for England released 21 May 2012
The Department of Health have released its Information Strategy for England entitled 'The power of information: Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need'.
See the UKCHIP press release response to the strategy here and see more information about the strategy and download a copy from the DH website.
Email Mik Horswell on marketing@ukchip.net for more information.
ICD-10 4th Edition Implementation from 1st April 2012
In 2010 the Government committed the NHS to implementing World Health Organisation ICD-10 changes to support quality improvements on 1 April 2012. The mandating Information Standards Notice to the NHS and their suppliers (Reference Amd 86/2010) for the implementation of the updates was issued by the Information Standards Board on 4 August 2011.
A briefing document on the requirements, together with details of recently released all the necessary training materials and supporting reference book can be found by clicking here.
23 Feb 2012
New Guidance for Registration Applications and Renewal
On 1st January 2011, UKCHIP introduced a new online self-assessment and registration system. All registration applications after that date were handled by the new system and existing registrants were also encouraged to use the system to renew their registration when it became due. However, the old system was retained for those registrants who found it easier or wished to renew on that system whilst old data was transferred.
Two new guides have now been produced which are available to download:
- UKCHIP Registration - Guide for Applicants; and
- How to renew registration - for registrants who have been transferred to the new system.
For all new applications and renewals please follow this link to the registration page.
If you have any questions or experience any difficulties with registration, please email UKCHIP Admin on admin@ukchip.net or telephone 0844 870 7902.
2 Feb 2012
Liberating the NHS: Developing the Healthcare Workforce
A policy framework for a new approach to workforce planning and the education and training of the health workforce has been published by the Department of Health.
Liberating the NHS: Developing the Healthcare Workforce aims to put employers and professionals in the driving seat and give them the national support they need to identify and anticipate the key workforce challenges, and to be flexible and responsive in planning and developing their workforce. The Department believes these provider-led arrangements offer the best assurance for future-proofing the way the health and public health workforce is developed.
The policy will be implemented through new organisations: Health Education England (HEE) and Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs). These organisations plan to develop relationships with professional regulators and professional bodies such as UKCHIP.
Further details can be found here and the framework document can be downloaded here.
12 Jan 2012
NHS Future Forum recommends professional accreditation for informatics professionals
In a new report on Information, the NHS Future Forum states that:
"Using data to drive quality improvement is a fundamental governance priority of all health and social care organisations. Boards and governing bodies need to be held rigorously to account for how well they collect, use and publish this information".
The report goes on to say:
"The kind of cultural change we want to see needs to be ‘championed’ at every level. A clinician who is responsible for organising information in support of better patient care should be identified in every organisation".
The Forum recommends that organisations should support the development of professional informatics skills and behaviours, including encouraging accreditation of informatics professionals across the sector and that this is particularly important where those specialist skills and competencies directly support health and social care practice. In order to ensure all staff – including clinicians, general management and social care staff – understand and use informatics appropriately in daily activities, informatics needs to be fully included in education, training and continued development programmes across the sector.
UKCHIP wholeheartedly supports this recommendation. The full report can be found here.
10 Jan 2012
New Accreditation Scheme for Health Informatics Courses & Training
Following a period of development and piloting, UKCHIP has launched its Education Quality Assurance Scheme (EQAS), providing accreditation of courses and modules in health informatics.
The scheme is based on the Health Informatics Quality Scheme piloted by NHS CFH and which closed in March 2011. The UKCHIP scheme sets criteria for assessing both learning provider organisations and the learning outcomes of health informatics courses and modules against its registration standards, and thereby accredits learning as suitable for the professional development of registrants.
Accredited courses will be published in a public register on the UKCHIP website and it is expected that links will be made with the HICF Learning Catalogue and other relevant sources for information on health informatics development.
We are pleased to announce that the MSc in Health Informatics at Swansea University is the first course to receive UKCHIP EQAS accreditation, and several other courses are currently under assessment.
Click here for further details and how to apply for accreditation under the UKCHIP Education Quality Assurance Scheme or to view the UKCHIP Register of Accredited Learning.
25 Nov 2011
CQC uses UKCHIP Registration in Quality & Risk Profiles
UKCHIP has rbeen working with the Care Quality Commission regarding the use of data on the registration and accreditation of health informatics professionals as a criterion in its assessment of healthcare organisations.
UKCHIP has provided anonymised summary data about its current registrants which the CQC have analysed and included in the Quality and Risk Profile (QRP) reports for November.
Initially the CQC will grade Trusts by the highest level of UKCHIP registration they have and NHS trusts will fall into one of four categories; level 1, 2 or 3 registrant employed by the Trust or no registrant employed by the Trust. The 'expected' level has been set at level 1 so those with UKCHIP registrations at level 2 or 3 will appear as 'better than expected' and those with no registration will appear as 'worse than expected'.
This may change in the future and it may be more appropriate to move it up to level 2. UKCHIP will be reviewing the results and reaction to the QRPs with the CQC early in the New Year, to identify areas where the data provided and the analysis can be refined.
25 Nov 2011
A Quote from Andrew Garcarz, Level 3 Registrant
My "informatics" career (what exactly is informatics anyone?) started in 1970 with the GPO ( remember them?) as a telecommunications apprentice. Electronic data communications was in its infancy, telex was the fastest way of getting information distributed electronically, think of the old TV football results vidi-printer from the 70's, 50 bits per second, then came these wonderful things called modems running at 100bps, then 200bps, 1200 bps and so it went on.
I was very fortunate to be involved with a new exciting and emerging industry. 40 years on, I've worked in the private sector for some of the world’s biggest blue chips, and in the public sector in a variety of infrastructure, network and operations roles, I'm still not a Microsoft certified anything, I did a Prince and an ITIL qualification a few years back, but I "understand" the underlying architecture, the way things interoperate, the difficulties of ensuring that data is secure, available and that it's integrity is not compromised.
But most importantly to me, I am accredited at level 3 (the highest) with UKCHIP, the United Kingdom accreditation body for Health Informatics Professionals, which offers a competency-based registration system where my credentials are available to view on line. I believe this should be a mandatory requirement for anyone seeking employment in an IT/IM&T or informatics role.
Andrew is a an Informatics and Infrastructure Specialist and is currently the QIPP Informatics Lead at NHS West Midlands.
17 October 2011
Recognition of Clinical Informatics as a Medical Subspecialty
Last week in the US, an important milestoner was reached when the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved clinical informatics as a medical subspecialty. This development validates the profession in a highly visible way.
The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) has also been working with the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), one of the specialty boards within ABMS, to propose subspecialty board exams and certification for physicians who meet eligibility criteria. AMIA has a new webpage devoted to the clinical informatics subspecialty, with more information on clinical informatics certification.
UKCHIP has consistently recognised clinical informatics as an important constituency of health informatics and offers registration to individuals practising in this field. The Health Informatics Career Framework provides information on the roles undertaken by clinical informatics professionals, including indicative UKCHIP registration levels.
4 Oct 2011
