Quicksilva thoughts...

Using IT systems to provide real-time information from data that already exists to save lives and money is a positive step in the right direction. The most effective way of controlling the spread of both Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in hospitals is through early detection and appropriate isolation and treatment.

In the US studies are already underway which aim to delineate risk factors for MRSA in the emergency department and to develop a risk stratification predictive model to help identify those at risk of MRSA and those that may be treated more conservatively. It should only be a matter of time before these systems can predict quite accurately those most at risk of acquiring these infections by clearly defining a set of variables known to increase the risk of MRSA such as demographics, BMI, homelessness, group or nursing home residence, IV drug use, sexual contact, healthcare occupation and recent skin infections.

Quicksilva thoughts...

It is great to hear examples of technology being used to provide better local services, where the patient is at the centre of the initiative and not the technology. 

Many patients travel many miles to see a specialist or consultant, spending a whole day travelling for a relatively short appointment.  If some of these could be done via a video link, I'm sure it would save a lot of inconvenience and unnecessary stress for the patient.

Is this the start of a move towards a “cyber” health service where GPs will diagnose patients who are at home on their web cams?!   No I don’t think so.  However, video links will hopefully become more common (within controlled environments), meaning better access to specialists and services, and generally making healthcare more accessible, which can only be a good thing.

Quicksilva thoughts...

It is amazing to see that it is the Lords who are taking cybercrime seriously and that nearly all their suggestions aimed at getting a grip on the situation have been rejected by the Government. It does look like a huge problem to tackle and burying your head in the sand is one solution but it’s not rocket science and the technology and the expertise is there to help. It doesn’t sound as if Lord Erroll will let this one go...and with a name like Merlin he should be able to do wonders!

Quicksilva thoughts...

The information technology revolution that has shaped the NHS Service in recent years has been phenomenal in terms of the effect it has had on facilitating more efficient working practices within hospitals and general practices. Electronic Patient Records & Booking Services, Touch Screen User Interfaces, Wireless Technology and Electronic Speech software to name but a few of the advancements, have all endeavoured to shorten waiting times, reduce medical & clerical errors and ultimately to improve the standard of care we each receive as patients. Here's to technology I say, and may the revolution continue!

Quicksilva thoughts...

The BBC should be commended for “making the unmissable, unmissable”.  They are responding to changing consumers lifestyles – no longer do people want to choose between the television schedule ruling their lives or missing out.

However, ISPs are now complaining that their services are being fully used.  Thanks to content providers like the BBC, there are now legitimate reasons for the general public to download data in bulk, and ISPs (who in a competitive market, have sold their products too cheaply) do not have networks capable of coping.

So who should pay?  Charge the BBC and it’ll be the public footing the bill.  It will also be to the detriment of high quality, available content.  Where is the incentive for content providers if they’ll be billed for popular items?

And why only the BBC?  What about the YouTubes, Facebooks, MySpaces of this world?  What about other providers – ITV, Channel4, etc?  How do you determine who and how to bill?

It is simply poor pricing strategies.  If ISPs knew their infrastructures couldn’t cope, why sell them as “unlimited”? If the content providers don’t pay, consumers may face higher bills or limitations - ending up feeling like a person with a large appetite being turned away from an ‘all you can eat’.