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The accreditation was scheduled to be formally launched in 2006, but this has been brought forward after a successful year-long pilot scheme, with the CSIA recommending it to be adopted as market standard across the public sector. "This scheme will bring welcome new levels of confidence and assurance to information security in the public sector. As public sector services and information systems become more joined up, the government is taking steps to ensure those systems are adequately protected,” said Jim Murphy, e-Government Minister. "The CCT Mark will help vendors and buyers alike, and guarantees information assurance in public sector organisations remains robust and retains high levels of public confidence," he added.
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The
UK’s first ever quality award scheme for off-the-shelf security
products has been launched this week, in a bid to achieve a consistent
level of both consumer confidence and system security within the public
sector. Aimed at public sector ICT managers and SMEs looking for procurement
guidance, the CCT mark also offers a range of benefits for vendors of
the security products. The approval process is around 20 days and the
costs are relatively low compared to similar schemes, along with the
assurance of being government supported. 
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The system allows GPs to make e-referrals direct from their practices to the hospital, and monitor the progress of each individual case. The process offers a more secure data handling and storage solution, meaning that referrals cannot be lost in the post or be misdirected. “Before the new software, we would produce the referral, print it out and put it in an envelope. Now, the patients love seeing the message flash on the screen, confirming that the hospital server has received the referral before they get up from their chair in my consulting room. It’s very reassuring both for them and us,” commented Dr David Morris from St Mark's Dee View Surgery in Flintshire. The software has been designed to sync with existing medical systems, and supports the introduction of the Connecting for Health Choose and Book system in England and Informing Healthcare in Wales. |
The
largest electronic patient referral system in the UK has been launched
by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Cheshire,
following a successful trial period. Under the system - designed by
Medisec Software - the Trust has linked up to 33 surgeries across Cheshire,
Flintshire and the Wirral, with over 2600 referrals being made electronically
every month. This amounts to more than a quarter of all referrals received
by the hospital.
"Ministers have already started taking the debate out to the country and more events are planned throughout the course of the year but the website will help us reach those people who may not be able to attend those specific events,” commented Minister for Pensions Reform, Stephen Timms. As part of the wider DWP website, the debate pages also offer detailed information and resources on pension provision, and access to the Pensions Commission report. "David Blunkett has spoken of our desire to reach a consensus
on the way forward, but also of ensuring as many people as possible
understand the issues involved and the implications of any future solution.
This website is an invaluable tool in achieving this," added Timms. |
A new website has been launched for the National Pensions Debate, featuring
interactive facilities where users can register their opinions on the
key issues. The site uses a form-based approach for users to express
their views, and will be updated with progress reports over the coming
months.
The event, hosted in London as part of the UK’s European Presidency, was attended by delegates from all 25 EU member states along with leading corporate representatives including Vodafone and BT. The conference worked towards defining the i2010 ICT strategy that will be followed within the EU until 2010. The strategy covers areas such as competitiveness, growth, job creation and addressing social issues. "Forty per cent of European productivity is due to ICT but our counterparts elsewhere in the world are doing even more to harness these economic benefits of ICT. We must not be complacent in Europe - we must raise our game. The i2010 Strategy is our blueprint to make Europe the most competitive and knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010,” said Alun Michael, Industry and the Regions Minister. "We need to ensure that the i2010 Strategy truly delivers the economic and social benefits of the digital revolution for the citizens of Europe in the 21st Century,” he added. "We will only strengthen economic growth and thereby create more and better jobs for Europeans if we open our markets, if we invest into ICT as the most productive sectors of the economy, and if we make sure that superfluous regulation is abolished,” said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. |
The
European ICT sector must ‘raise its game’ in order to fulfil
future challenges in the industry, it emerged from the recent i2010
conference. Among the goals highlighted for progress were increased
and more effective investment in ICT research and development, and working
towards an open and competitive market for ICT services.
Coventry City Council has revealed details of its new online FAQ system, designed to offer more information to its citizens and boost the existing website service. The interactive system - ArchiveInformation provided by Business Web Software - will provide local authority information for the area’s 300,000 residents in an efficient and effective way. The FAQ software is fully searchable and gives links to more information when needed, with any enquiries directed immediately to the relevant council contact for further processing. "This is great news for the City Council and for Coventry,” said Councillor Brian Kelsey, Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services at Coventry City Council. “By putting in place new software like this, we are making our services easier to use and more accessible to people at times convenient to them. This is just one of many ways we are aiming to improve the way we deal with the public." Coventry City Council’s e-government service was assessed as ‘well placed to further improve’ in the most recent Audit Commission report.
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