Industry News

OS: This week, metadata about Ordnance Survey’s products has been made available through data.gov.uk, alongside INSPIRE-compliant view services through the OS OnDemand web map service.  The INSPIRE Directive establishes a framework for easier sharing of geographic information among European public bodies and improved accessibility to the public.
 
One of the first steps for organisations producing data which falls under INSPIRE was the creation of metadata.  Ordnance Survey’s metadata is now available for other public bodies and the public to access on their website and on data.gov.uk
 
In addition, customers of the OS OnDemand web map service will be able to view INSPIRE-related products as a raster image via an INSPIRE-compliant view service.  The service, which delivers OS’s most up-to-date mapping over the web to an organisation in seconds, has recently upgraded to ensure compliance and added more raster images of products.  
 
These include Strategi, Meridian 2, OS VectorMap Local, Land-Form PROFILE and OS MasterMap Integrated Transport Network Layer.  A further update later in the year will see OS VectorMap District and the National Address Gazetteer added to OS OnDemand.
Press release & links
 
DH: Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, and leading figures from health charities have launched the UK's first online health tracker that lets patients track their recovery live and provides essential data to help shape clinical decisions in the NHS.
 
HealthUnlocked Tracker is the UK’s first online patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) system lets patients record their progress in real time in-clinic using an iPad.  The patients use the same system at home to track their progress over the internet.
 
HealthUnlocked Tracker is being trialled at the RoyalNationalOrthopaedicHospital (RNOH).  The on-going pilot will measure the effectiveness of spinal surgery over a prolonged period, gathering essential data in an efficient & user-friendly way.
Press release & links ~ HealthUnlocked
 
BEH-MHTBarnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust (BEH-MHT), one of the largest mental health trusts in the country, is making a radical change in the way its computer & communications services are managed.  BEH-MHT has become the first NHS Trust in the UK to outsource its entire IT and communications technologyto HP - the world's largest IT company.
 
Under the agreement HP will modernise all the Trust's technology bringing together data & voice services thereby helping the Trust to deliver improved mental & physical healthcare services - as close as possible to the people who need them.
Press release & links ~ Outsourcing ICT carries many risks for local authorities and can come at a heavy price says new briefing from Socitm Insight
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