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NHS Direct Online has had a quality appraisal process since its launch last year. We have been working with DISCERN and OMNI to identify quality websites and appraise patient information materials, giving them star ratings derived from DISCERN. This is a transparent process with links from the Conditions and Treatments section of NHS Direct Online to DISCERN and OMNI sites, explaining the appraisal processes. I am happy to be funding OMNI and DISECERN during the current financial year to develop and refine the mechanisms further. The NHS Plan makes a specific commitment to "kitemarking" information for patients (paras 1.10 and 12.3)This will become part of the new NHSplus service identified in the plan as an agency for producing NHS print and broadcast information. Until the Modernisation Board starts its work we don't know exactly the form NHSplus will take but I am confident that it will build on existing work on quality appraisal. Bob Gann Director NHS Direct Online Highcroft, Romsey Road Winchester SO22 5DH 01962 872201 [log in to unmask] www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk -----Original Message----- From: Danny Tucker [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 08 August 2000 10:20 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: NHS to sanction medical sites This is the front page heading of the current copy of 'NewMediaAge', discussing NHS Direct Online's plan to develop a kite-marking scheme to accredit medical sites on the internet. Would anyone care to comment further on this as the article did not go into specifics? Mat? Regards, Danny %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%