Apologies for cross posting
I would like to give you a brief update on new features on the EQUIP (Electronic Quality Information for Patients ) website - www.equip.nhs.uk. On this website you will find links to quality-checked health and social care information for patients and carers in the UK and checked national and local (West Mids) support groups. There are some specific separate sections for West Midlands users, but most of the information is for the whole of UK. We have involved users throughout the development and continue to get groups to review the site as it evolves.
55 health and social care topics and over 1000 support groups checked at least every 12 months
Find your nearest - links to searchable databases of accredited/state registered practitioners in complementary medicine, professions allied to medicine and NHS services
Other languages - a rapidly expanding section of links for information and support in languages other than English
Support group search - the database of over 1000 support groups (contact details checked every 12 months) is now searchable on the site from the homepage http://www.equip.nhs.uk either by geographical area (either UK-wide or for West Mids users you can select your county (NB West Mids county is split further)) or by information topic. Soon these 2 searches will be able to be combined so you can search for 'Eye Disorders in Worcestershire', for example. I hope that this new feature will enhance the way some users might want to find the information
Hot topics - from the homepage you can search the list of hot topics - these are issues that are in the media at the moment or are ongoing popular querieseg: MMR, MRSA, SARS etc.. The links on the hot topics page take the user directly to specific information about that topic rather than going into the more general topic pages.
West Midlands NHS services has been changed to WMids 'health & social services' and links to council websites have been added. These services are split by county.
NHS compatible - the font and colour etc of the website has been aligned to NHS guidance.
A new PALS section - http://www.equip.nhs.uk/services/pals.html aimed at PALS staff and others with similar interests - has links to useful documents, news, training and conferences and networking opportunities. This is very much in development so please feedback to me - grateful for your input or any additional info that you feel appropriate for the section. If you know of any events that you want advertised etc or training - let me know.
EQUIP now has a link from nhs.uk as well as many other NHS organisations and is used by NHS Direct Call Centres throughout the UK and I am always trying to raise awareness. Any help on this from you would be gratefully received - I have A3 posters, stickers to go on PC screens and leaflets about the website (see http://www.equip.nhs.uk/publicity.html). These have been placed in libraries and many GP surgeries in the West Midlands, but if you are able to place any more of these, please let me know.
Thank you for your time. I hope EQUIP is helping you in your jobs, if not please let me know how I can improve the site.
Sarah
*************************************************
Sarah Greening
Intelligence Officer - Patient Information
West Midlands Library Services Development Unit,
Public Health Building,
University of Birmingham
Birmingham. B15 2TT
Tel. 0121 414 7754
email [log in to unmask]
EQUIP - Electronic Quality Information for Patients at www.equip.nhs.uk
*************************************************
Sarah Greening
Patient Information Intelligence Officer
West Midlands Library Services Development Unit
Public Health Building
University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
0121 414 7754
EQUIP - Quality Information for Patients
www.equip.nhs.uk
|
