By Gemma Simpson, 8 March 2007 16:30
Microsoft has unveiled a 'tailored' version of its Windows operating system to be used by National Health Service workers.
The Common User Interface (CUI) is only halfway through its four year development project but Microsoft has been showing off some working prototypes of the software.
Microsoft is offering the interface at a discounted price and claims the NHS will see £300m worth of procurement savings. The company also says the interface runs on any operating system - even Linux.
Andrew Kirby, director of NHS engagement at Microsoft, said the CUI puts the "NHS-ness in the Microsoft Office software".
Kirby added that it takes concepts from Microsoft's software to improve ease of use and limit training costs while not breaching patient security.
Pictured above is the patient overview screen which a doctor or nurse will see when they log on to a person's profile.
Photo credit: Microsoft
Comments
There are 4 comments. Join the discussion
1. Roger Huffadine
There are already blogs that show the proposed NHS interface won't work under Vista with the existing hardware. For the system to be able to render the X ray photos in any detail - every PC in the NHS will need to be swapped out for a 100% Vista capable PC. Microsoft know this I hope that the Secretary of State for Health has been told.
2. Alastair Warren
Thanks Roger. I didn't know that.
Sounds like more £$£$ to Microsoft and still less on MRSA and C Difficile infection control, and post operative cancer follow up.
3. anonymous
you have got to be kidding, those thumbnails are tiny!
4. Dr Alison Grimston
There is no way we will be able to work with this - time is already restricted, if we have to state whether every sore throat is mild or severe (with 2-3 extra clicks) and stop every time we are prescribing potential drug drug interactions (which we have already considered and discussed with the patients) we will need 30 minutes for each appointment instead of 10 - but the time would be much better spent lstening to & explaining to the patient.