APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTING


PPP Healthcare Medical Trust
announces new electronic learning resources grants programme

The grantmaking charity, PPP Healthcare Medical Trust, announces a new £1m
annual grants programme to support electronic learning resources in
healthcare. The Trust will provide grants of between £15,000 and £120,000
for up to three years. 

"At present, a wide range of electronic learning resources exist, but their
quality varies considerably and there are major gaps in subject coverage,"
said David Carrington, Chief Executive of PPP Healthcare Medical Trust. "In
addition, a lack of information skills amongst health care providers and
consumers is a major barrier to effective use of these resources, along with
patchy access to the networks that carry such resources".

The aim of this programme is to support the general public (patients and
consumers of NHS and private health care services and those caring for
them), those providing health services to the public (including all clinical
staff working in the acute sector and the community) and those supporting
the provision of health care (e.g. researchers, technicians, managers,
teachers and librarians):

*       to develop new information skills;
*       to produce electronic learning resources (within the context of
adding to existing electronic library collections and/or producing resources
for Internet access);
*       to improve access to these resources.

PPP Healthcare Medical Trust aims to support projects that intend to:

*       Develop information skills to find and use electronic resources more
effectively, e.g.:
a)      Training in searching for health information on the Internet, in
databases and other electronic sources;
b)      Training in the development and production of new resources
including website design.

*       Improve access to existing virtual libraries and electronic
resources, e.g.:
a)      Facilitate outreach and information support to socially and
geographically isolated communities;
b)      Providing resources in alternative formats to reach groups with
special needs.

*       Develop new learning resource content, e.g.:
a)      Fill gaps in subject areas, e.g. complementary medicine;
b)      Fill gaps in content for certain target audiences, e.g.
schoolchildren.

*       Support information research about the use of electronic resources
in healthcare, e.g.:
a)      Research on the implications of the Internet on medical education
and patient care;
b)      Research skills training to assist in developing an evidence-based
approach to service delivery.

Voluntary sector organisations, academic institutions, NHS Trusts and other
public sector organisations can apply for funding for projects. In
particular, applications are invited from knowledge managers, public
librarians, healthcare librarians, healthcare professionals and teachers.
All applications must be received by 7 September 2001.

Priority will be given to funding projects that address the needs of
socially and geographically isolated and disadvantaged groups or community
based health care providers, which promote cross-sector and cross-discipline
co-operation.

PPP Healthcare Medical Trust is an independent grantmaking charity, set up
with a large endowment from the sale of the PPP healthcare group. In 2000,
the Trust's first full year of grantmaking, it awarded almost £18.5 million
to help improve healthcare in the UK.

For further information on the application process, please contact David
Carrington, Chief Executive, on 020 7307 2622.

Posted by list member
Jane Shaddock 
Editor
Centre for Health Information Quality (C-H-i-Q) 

01962 872203
Registered Charity no.1001647. A Company limited by guarantee. Registered in
England no. 2572617