New Computer Contract Harnesses State-of-the-Art IT
For Somerset’s Mentally Ill

A state of the art computer system which supports health professionals with the day-to-day care of people with mental ill health is being introduced in Somerset.

Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, which provides integrated health and social care services to people with mental illness have appointed CSE-Servelec Limited, a Sheffield based computer company, to deliver a fully integrated computer based patient support system.

To date, existing health and social services computer systems have not been as efficient as their modern counterparts, frequently requiring time consuming duplication of information and records.

In addition, the introduction of electronic patient records and enhanced use of other information technology applications is at the core of the Government’s drive to modernise the NHS.

The CSE Servelec system, known as RIO presents information in a similar way to the internet and so is easy to learn and read on computer screen.

The new system is far more than a sophisticated patient record system, providing health professionals with:

? The integration of patient care plans, referrals and significant events which may impact on their mental health.

? The automatic calculation of dates for patient care or action, including the production of specimen letters alerting the health professional if an action has been missed.

? The monitoring of patient medication and warning if the patient is at risk of self harm, or conditions such as drug allergy, hypothermia, or whether they just require additional attention.
2)
Alan Stubbs, Managing Director of CSE-Servelec Limited says: “We are delighted the Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust has chosen to adopt this tried and tested computer system. We have considerable experience of maintaining such systems in the UK healthcare sector. RIO brings all the benefits of information technology in a single package. It’s accessible from a computer desktop, saving time for health professionals, offering safeguards for the patients and providing a single source of patient data for the organisation.”

Richard Caves, Head of Informatics for the Somerset NHS health community said:
“Health and social care professionals support the majority of patients with mental ill health in the community. In a large rural county like Somerset, staff work on many different and distant sites.

“The timely sharing of information has always been a challenge. This seven year contract with CSE-Servelec Limited will not only ensure a single patient record is maintained, but incorporate easily accessible clinical information, to front line health and social care staff .”

CSE-Servelec Limited are introducing the new computer system over the next eighteen months and an extensive programme of staff training is starting in April 2002.