By Jon Haynes Putting all local authority services on line by 2005 will bring benefits to citizens, but enhanced opportunities to computer hackers to create havoc. The author highlights the increasing risk based on the experience of the private sector. He argues that security is not a technical, but a strategic issue of top management concern and for which someone should be accountable.
Plans to move a range of treatments from hospitals to primary care are being implemented ahead of schedule. The target to have 1,000 specialist GPs taking referrals from fellow GPs by 2004 has been achieved. A guide to developing the role of ‘Nurses with Special Interests’ has been produced with examples of how nurses in specialist roles are improving care for patients.In the last year 11,000 patients were seen by GPs with special interests in their local practice. The range of services they provided include, neurology, rheumatology, and ophthalmology. Waiting times for all specialties are less than 13 weeks. In one case a specialist GP in cardiology is performing twice weekly patient assessments. Waiting times have been reduced from six months to six weeks.
A blueprint for setting up and running Business Improvement Districts has been published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Under the proposals councils and the local business community would be able to take forward schemes which will benefit the local community, subject to the agreement of ratepayers. Business ratepayers would agree to pay an additional levy on their rate bill to finance a BID. The ratepayers themselves would decide in advance on the way in which their money is spent and how much they are prepared to pay in addition to their rates bill. Each ratepayer who would be asked to contribute to the BID would be able to vote on whether or not that BID goes ahead. Comments on the draft guidance are required by 10 October 2003.A BID can be established in any place where additional services to those which the council provides are desired by the local business community. BIDs could be located in town centres, in one or two particular streets or a larger area. They could be located in Industrial estates, business parks or anywhere that business sees a need.