Healthcare IT industry news in brief

In this week’s round-up we take a look at a UK primary care system supplier branching out in the Middle East, a greater focus on health at Innovate UK and community staff accessing clinical records whilst out and about.

TPP wins contract in Qatar

A subsidiary of Leeds-based health software company TPP has secured a contract to work on Qatar project worth up to £21 million. TPP Middle East has signed an agreement with state-owned Integrated Intelligence Services to deploy its SystmOne electronic record product in 300 primary care private health sites across the country.

This is first big contract the Middle East subsidiary of the mainly UK-based company has secured in the region. TPP and IIS will start working with private clinic in the next few months and expect to have SystmOne deployed in some sites by the end of the year 

New health and life sciences position at Innovate UK

Innovate UK has appointed Ian Campbell as its first director for health and life sciences. The new role had been created after a broader reorganisation at the state innovation agency, that split the agency’s funding focus into four sectors. One of these is health and life sciences.

Campbell is currently the chief executive at Arquer Diagnostics, which specialises in non-invasive cancer detection, such as urine tests. He has also worked in senior positions at medical device manufacturer Bespak Europe Ltd and Molecular Vision, which developed rapid diagnostic toold. Campbell starts at Innovate UK in autumn this year.

Oxleas uses MIA to remotely access clinical record

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust staff are using a mobile-based app to access and update RiO clinical files without returning to the office. The Kent and south London community and mental health trust is working with Isosec to deploy their MIA product among community staff.

The app, accessible on iOS phoned, links into the RiO electronic records used at 125 sites across the region. As well as Rio supplier Servelec and Isosec, the project also involves Precise Biometrics, which provide smart card verification. So far more than 1000 staff are using MIA to access files remotely.

Wales screening programme adds e-referrals

The Wales abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme will now refer patients to health board electronically, after updating their e-referral system. Previously referring patients that required addition investigation for aortic aneurysm have had to be done manually. However, the new e-referral system, delivered by NHS Wales Informatics Service and Public Health Wales, will make this process automatic.