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Hmm. The phrase "IT system" is doing quite a bit of work in this piece - though, to be fair, at least a couple of 'em are mentioned.
Let's take a closer look at what's been going on behind the scenes, and what it is that's still to be sorted...
1/n https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-may-be-delayed-with-it-system-failing-constantly-12164829
Let's take a closer look at what's been going on behind the scenes, and what it is that's still to be sorted...
1/n https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-may-be-delayed-with-it-system-failing-constantly-12164829
First, let's be clear: MULTIPLE #vaccination programmes are now taking place, involving multiple #vaccines - for #flu as well as for #COVID19.
(One shouldn't have a COVID vaccination within 2 weeks of a 'flu vaccination, so this is directly relevant to when you get your shots.)
(One shouldn't have a COVID vaccination within 2 weeks of a 'flu vaccination, so this is directly relevant to when you get your shots.)
In 2020/21, 'flu vaccination has been expanded to everyone over 50, with 30 million doses on offer:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-flu-vaccinations-rolled-out-to-over-50s-from-december
and this flu programme started at the beginning of December.
The body responsible for *both* the flu and #COVID19vaccination programmes is @NHSEngland...
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-flu-vaccinations-rolled-out-to-over-50s-from-december
and this flu programme started at the beginning of December.
The body responsible for *both* the flu and #COVID19vaccination programmes is @NHSEngland...
...which has established what it calls a "National Immunisation Management Service", or #NIMS for short.
(There's a broad-brush overview of what it's supposed to do here:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/privacy-notice/national-flu-vaccination-programme/)
This " #Service", however, involves a whole range of other bodies and #systems...
(There's a broad-brush overview of what it's supposed to do here:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/privacy-notice/national-flu-vaccination-programme/)
This " #Service", however, involves a whole range of other bodies and #systems...
...including a "central Immunisation Management System", with an "interactive dashboard" to help identify cohorts; notification and booking systems: and "centralised data capture" and "business intelligence" tools to monitor progress.
And that doesn't even begin to cover...
And that doesn't even begin to cover...
...all of the other systems being used by those actually delivering #vaccinations.
One of these, already in use, is the 'National Immunisation Vaccination System' ( #NIVS) developed by @ardengem CSU for @NHSEngland:
https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/showcase/news-events/news-events/new-system-developed-to-support-national-immunisation-and-vaccination-programmes/
which is for healthcare workers and...
One of these, already in use, is the 'National Immunisation Vaccination System' ( #NIVS) developed by @ardengem CSU for @NHSEngland:
https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/showcase/news-events/news-events/new-system-developed-to-support-national-immunisation-and-vaccination-programmes/
which is for healthcare workers and...
...certain vulnerable groups.
As @NHSEngland's FAQs spell out, vaccination data should be uploaded to #NIVS "in real time" - in practice daily, or at worst weekly.
You'll be glad to hear the bulk data uploads DON'T use #Excel...
...they use CSV
https://www.england.nhs.uk/increasing-health-and-social-care-worker-flu-vaccinations/niv-faqs/#is-an-excel-spreadsheet-capable-of-bulk-upload-to-the-system
As @NHSEngland's FAQs spell out, vaccination data should be uploaded to #NIVS "in real time" - in practice daily, or at worst weekly.
You'll be glad to hear the bulk data uploads DON'T use #Excel...
...they use CSV
https://www.england.nhs.uk/increasing-health-and-social-care-worker-flu-vaccinations/niv-faqs/#is-an-excel-spreadsheet-capable-of-bulk-upload-to-the-system
So that's #NIVS - being run by @ardengem, the CSU through which @NHSEngland engaged @PalantirTech - but what about #NIMS? Who's building that?
While nothing appears on its website, @NHSscw CSU has been hiring staff for an "Immunisation Management Service" since October, and...
While nothing appears on its website, @NHSscw CSU has been hiring staff for an "Immunisation Management Service" since October, and...
...and as @NHSDigital explains here South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit ( @NHSscw) is responsible for running the national " #CallandRecall" service, on behalf of @NHSEngland:
https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-data-services-updates/flu-vaccinations
South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit ( @NHSscw) is responsible for running the national " #CallandRecall" service, on behalf of @NHSEngland:https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-data-services-updates/flu-vaccinations
So, those are the 'central' bits; now let's dig a bit deeper...
It'll come as no surprise to those who know #NHS IT that South, Central & West CSU seems to be partnering with @GraphnetHealth/ @System_C, which both make identical statements on their sites:
https://www.systemc.com/solutions/child-health-immunisation/
It'll come as no surprise to those who know #NHS IT that South, Central & West CSU seems to be partnering with @GraphnetHealth/ @System_C, which both make identical statements on their sites:
https://www.systemc.com/solutions/child-health-immunisation/
...nor that it was clear by late November that the GP IT systems wouldn't be able to 'talk' to all of the other systems (including #NIMS & @MHRAgovuk's) in time.
Hence @NHSEngland's decision to use existing #pharmacy IT systems to record #vaccinations: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/immunology-and-vaccines/gps-will-record-covid-vaccinations-on-pharmacy-it-systems/
Hence @NHSEngland's decision to use existing #pharmacy IT systems to record #vaccinations: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/immunology-and-vaccines/gps-will-record-covid-vaccinations-on-pharmacy-it-systems/
...and it's with these pharmacy systems ( #Sonar by @sonarinfo, and @PHPharmOutcomes by #Pinnacle Health Partnership) that the problems reported by @skynews seem to lie.
Which is doubly surprising, given @NHSX claimed the reporting problem was 'solved'...
https://digital.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/more-gps-to-receive-electronic-notifications-of-flu-vaccinations-as-service-is-expanded
Which is doubly surprising, given @NHSX claimed the reporting problem was 'solved'...
https://digital.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/more-gps-to-receive-electronic-notifications-of-flu-vaccinations-as-service-is-expanded
...and given that @EMISGroup - the largest provider of the very #GP IT systems to which these #pharmacy systems are trying to send the #vaccination info - itself bought up @PHPharmOutcomes, back in March of this year: https://www.digitalhealth.net/2020/03/emis-acquires-pharmoutcomes-pharmacy-management-platform/
But then again, it's not surprising at all - given the fragmented landscape of systems and bodies, processes and data flows across what many seem to be learning for the first time is not just "one NHS".
It's utterly frustrating, but will these problems be sorted?
I believe so.
It's utterly frustrating, but will these problems be sorted?
I believe so.
What you have to bear in mind is the #operational work is being done by people who know, and who care: like folks at @NHSDigital who've quietly kept the wheels on the bus, and companies who've served primary care for decades; by people who, in the midst of chaos, still manage...
...to improve things, and even make progress on strategic goals* while delivering at scale and at speed.
__
*Terms like " #SNOMED CT" or " #FHIR" won't mean much to non-health nerds, but let me assure you they'll both underpin the delivery of UK healthcare for the next generation.
__
*Terms like " #SNOMED CT" or " #FHIR" won't mean much to non-health nerds, but let me assure you they'll both underpin the delivery of UK healthcare for the next generation.
Will there be #ScrewUps? Yes. There always are.
The real problem's not that, but the #CoverUps; the stuff they WON'T tell us. The stuff they've had MONTHS to get right, like #transparency about what happens *after* your personal data gets sent to @NHSEngland's #COVID19datastore:
The real problem's not that, but the #CoverUps; the stuff they WON'T tell us. The stuff they've had MONTHS to get right, like #transparency about what happens *after* your personal data gets sent to @NHSEngland's #COVID19datastore:
We're finally focusing on the right things: #interoperability; getting data flowing along #CarePathways for #PatientSafety and care delivery - so let's please have less of the #DataLakes, the power plays & 'real-time' #surveillance.
How about more #accountability instead?
/ends
How about more #accountability instead?
/ends
