In brief …. 19 June 2015
S3 wins genome storage contract
Solid State Solutions (S3) has been appointed by Genomics England to provide storage for the 100,000 Genomes Project interim environment.
Part of Capita Technology Solutions, S3 will implement ‘scale out’ storage, with an initial capacity of seven petabytes of data, using the EMC Isilion system. This will allow multiple users to access the same data at the same time, thereby increasing the capacity for analysis.
It said the data will be stored and accessed within research governance and ethical frameworks and held in an environment only for Genomics England.
The 100,000 Genomes Project has been set up to explore how NHS patients could benefit from genomics – the study of the structure and function of DNA.
Wokingham uses Mayrise for inspections
Wokingham Borough Council has introduced new mobile working practices using the Mayrise Street Works system from Yotta. They allow staff to check compliance of works, report overstays and recommend fixed penalty notices.
The council is using Honeywell Dolphin mobile computers running the software, enabling street works officers and inspectors to remotely access the Street Works Register. They can also generate defect inspection reports, recommend fixed penalties and check compliance with permit conditions.
Graham Barnwell, traffic Manager at Wokingham, said: “By enabling officers to access the information they need, when they need it, we are allowing staff to focus on the job in hand. By reducing the need for inspectors to return to the office or interrupt colleagues to obtain relevant information we are already seeing an increase in productivity and improvement in the service we provide to the community.”
Southern trusts procure digitised records solution
A group of NHS trusts in the south of England have procured a digitised health records system as part of the Southern Acute Programme.
The EDM Collaborative – consisting of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – is developing the system with healthcare technology solutions provider Kainos Evolve and scanning service provider Hugh Symons.
The system will replace a mixed storage arrangement in which there are central storage rooms and smaller facilities in several departments. All of the space will be reallocated for clinical use.
Simon Marshall, director of finance and information at Ashford and St. Peter’s, said: “We’re now embarking on one of the largest and most ambitious digitisation projects ever undertaken in the NHS. Scanning 300 million images will help to realise cumulative financial benefits of £29 million over 10 years and patient care will improve.”
The EDM Collaborative was awarded £10.6 million to be spent over four years after successfully presenting the business case to the Department of Health.
