Dear colleagues,

Later today, the National electronic Library for Health will be launching a
new search feature, at the NHS Information Authority's annual conference.
This is a very exciting development for the NeLH and is especially so
because this conference also marks the NeLH's first birthday!  For your
information, the press release is copied below.

The search feature has been developed by Jon Brassey, of the TRIP Database,
with IT input from Sequence.  Many of our colleagues have contributed ideas
and suggestions and the NeLH Team would like to thank the NeLH Librarians
Testing Panel who have contributed to the alpha and beta testing.   Please
take some time to have a look at the search engine and use our feedback page
to let us know what you think.


New search feature marks electronic health library's first birthday

www.nelh.nhs.uk

A new feature that makes it even easier for health professionals to search
and locate knowledge and know how has been added to the pilot National
electronic Library for Health (NeLH) as it celebrates its first birthday.

Announced today by the NHS Information Authority, during its second annual
conference, at Birmingham's International Convention Centre, the new search
engine covers selected key areas across the range of information resources
available from the e-library.

Muir Gray, Director of the NeLH, commented :"The role of the NeLH is to
provide health care professionals with the knowledge and know-how to support
health care related decisions.  The search engine opens up key resources for
clinicians reducing discovery time to a fraction of the previous time
required."

During its first year the e-library has grown at a spectacular rate and
contains a veritable A-Z of resources available ranging from a database of
rotational three-dimensional anatomy images - through to ZETOC -  a database
of journal tables of contents from the British Library.

Nick Rosen, who co-ordinates nursing and allied health resources for the
library, explained: "There are now 70 major information resources and the
library is getting requests for over 2 million pages a month. In response we
wanted to make it as easier as possible for users to find what they are
looking for."

During the year NeLH has been evaluated independently by the University of
Wales and the NCC group and is proving a popular starting point with a wide
range of clinical staff. In the regular feedback the site receives they have
expressed their delight in finding and using the library

"A wealth of clinical information" - podiatrist

"Will save so much time having direct access to info rather than trying to
find time to go to a library, which hardly ever happens" - dietitian

'It was good. I was looking at the recommendations for people with acute
heart failure, acute MI. And it was very brief... it's just bullet points
really which is useful  - consultant

"This site could potentially have a big impact on clinical practice in the
NHS, and ranks among the best I have accessed" - physiotherapist

 "Excellent web page with everything on it to find information on - nurse

"I think it is safe to say it has finally proved it's worth" - librarian

'Thank you for providing this website - it is excellent! It provides the
best link to all the info we need from one point.' - clinical governance
lead

"An absolutely brilliant website. I can not thank you enough for having put
this up on the web.  Thank you and your site will always be loved!" -
medical student

ENDS

Notes to editors
-  The pilot National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) is due to move
away from pilot status in October next year.
-  NeLH was established as part of the Government's Information for Health
Strategy which was launched in 1998.
-  It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.nelh.nhs.uk
-  The site includes access to licensed databases such as Cochrane Library,
Clinical Evidence, Evidence-Based On Call, and MGP E-Guidelines for NHS
staff
-  NeLH incorporates Virtual Branch Libraries serving specific diseases such
as heart disease and cancer, and professional portals offering information
services to professional groups such as midwives, physiotherapists and
radiographers
-  The NHS Information Authority is a Special Health Authority, founded in
1999, with responsibility for delivering the national components of the NHS
information strategy Information For Health.

Best wishes,
Alison
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Alison Turner
National electronic Library for Health (NeLH)
NHS Information Authority
Aqueous II, Aston Cross, Birmingham, B6 5RQ.
Mobile : 07887 574124
E-mail : [log in to unmask]

NeLH : www.nelh.nhs.uk
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