On Sunday, November 15, 1998 10:26 AM, Mary Hawking
[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] wrote:
> In message <[log in to unmask]>, Stuart
> Skeates <[log in to unmask]> writes
>
> >.I would
> >be interested if anyone has any figures for a suitable ratio of
> >hardware costs to software costs to training costs to locum costs.
>
> Training costs used to be quoted as 15% of original cost (i.e. hardware
> + software + installation, and, I think, *initial* training)
> Locum costs weren't mentioned - this was in a discussion on PRINCE and
> refered to the acute and community sectors.. where they don't appear to
> need locum cover!
>
> Are you also looking for staff locum/overtime costs attributable to the
> time needed for training? Again, these are not normally covered in
> General Practice staff training budgets
>
> Mary
>
I am thinking through blocks to the implementation of change in General
Practice with particular reference to IT strategies. One area that comes up
is finding the time for adequate training both initial and ongoing. Time is
of course money and the money is needed for locum cover whilst training
takes place. I am not surprised that the acute and community sectors don't
need locums - outpatient appts and operations are postponed all too
frequently. Midwives and community nurses seem to be the most affected by
this no locum policy as their work like ours is still there.
I found this quote in the BMJ of the 26th Sept last night which also
highlights the lack of funding in training
'Dr Ian Bowns, a senior fellow at the School of Health and Related Research
in Sheffield who has been commissioned to survey the current state of
education and training in informatics, says that many medical schools and
NHS trusts have no information technology training whatsoever, in stark
contrast to information projects in industry, in which up to half of the
budget might be spent on training staff to use new technology.'
IMHO if there is to be any hope of utilising the new technology then we
need to move on from the NHS training technique of 'This is a computer -
you'll pick it up as you go along' and invest some serious training and
education. Many practices, I feel, are now littered with fast computers
that are very underutilised.
We have had some funding for training costs but not approaching 50% of the
bid if that is what industry finds is required.
Stuart
Dr Stuart Skeates
Romsey
Hants
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