The Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 will bring major benefits to community healthcare workers and patients alike, claimed NHS leaders speaking at BT's unveiling of the Toughbook as a key component of its Mobile Health Worker solution.

BridgeHead Software, the Healthcare Storage Virtualization (HSV) company, has announced the appointment of Tony Tomkys to head up their sales operation in EMEA. In his new role as Director of Sales for EMEA, Tomkys aims to further increase BridgeHead's UK customer footprint in the NHS and private healthcare sector as well as driving pan-European initiatives.

Tees Valley Condition Management Programme (CMP) has implemented a new electronic patient record (EPR) system based on AxSys Technology's Excelicare solution. The EPR, which replaces a manual system, has been designed to support all aspects of patient administration and medical management.

Healthcare data storage expert Tony Cotterill has called secure data management the "missing link" to improving patient care in the 21st century. Cotterill's comments follow in the wake of research carried out by GS1 UK and Hospital Dr which discovered that half of doctors expect Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) to improve patient care by providing verifiable, consistent and complete data to support verbal handovers between medical staff.

According to a recent (leaked) report, a cash crisis at South London Healthcare Trust left patients lying on the operating table before doctors' realised vital equipment had not been ordered.

Accurate treatment costs at patient level will become crucial in helping NHS managers identify and cut waste without affecting care, according to a group of senior NHS financial staff.

The International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO) announced a collaborative arrangement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to harmonize WHO classifications and SNOMED CT for the benefit of citizens around the world.