Forwarded for Veronica Fraser
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Sent: 09 February 2000 00:34
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Cc: c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL INT;dda:RFC-822=jane(a)rowlands.demon.co.uk;; c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL INT;dda:RFC-822=MJORDAN(a)hfht.org;; c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL INT;dda:RFC-822=cwright(a)hfht.org;; c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL INT;dda:RFC-822=nelh(a)mailbase.ac.uk;; c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL INT;dda:RFC-822=sallyk(a)sklister.demon.co.uk;
Subject: public access to NHS libraries
The NeLH : find your medical library posting has generated quite a bit of
discussion and I have already replied to several concerned individuals. As
it happens this discussion is timely as the role of NHS libraries and
information for patients and the public is one of the topics in an NeLH /
RLG seminar in March on Consumer Health Information. If you have views or
experience concerning this it would be helpful to forward them to your
Regional Director of Libraries who can feed them into this event.
Public/patient access to NHS libraries is is an area where there is no set
NHS wide policy. The HSG on library services was silent on this and on a
few other matters which would have delayed issuing anything for years ! .
As the list discussion demonstrates there may be some challenging issues to
address in order to get this one right and a wide ranging discussion will
ensure that we tease them all out and develop coherent and sustainable
policies. Any policy would take into account Government strategies on
'joined up' working across sectors and the appropriateness of the
information available in 'medical' libraries as well as resources, access
for all NHS groups etc etc Even a comprehensive and fully up-to date map
may not be the best idea at the moment.
Veronica Fraser
NHS Executive
Information Policy Unit
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