Patients have doubts about the claims made by health service managers for the 2.3 billion pounds National Programme for IT. A survey of patients designed to find out their views, expectations and concerns revealed that there is real doubt about the capability of the proposed system. The patients simply doubted whether it would be possible for the NHS and new technology to cope. The survey also showed that patients overestimated the extent to which the NHS already works with electronic records. Respondents assumed that their GP record would, in future, be recorded on paper as well as electronically.The proposed system will create a basic health record for every patient and provide all the essential information anyone making health decisions about that patient needs to know. It will enable appointments to be booked instantly by computer, provide prescriptions and test results, including scans and x-rays, to be shared electronically and allow patients to know what information is being shared about them and who is seeing it. It will give patients control over what is shared. Eventually, patients will be able to view their records in their own homes via an internet link.

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The Local Government Association has criticised the 14 – 19 Learning Strategy White Paper. The Association argues that the paper equates skills with the possession of qualifications and it also fails to recognise the role of local authorities in ‘building learning communities’. The aim should be to ensure that where skills and learning are concerned, young people get the quality education they deserve, employers get the workforce they want and local authorities use their potential as a major employer to promote all forms of learning.Graham Lane, Chair of the Association’s Education and Lifelong Learning Executive, said: “The Skills Strategy White Paper significantly understates the role of local authorities. As the main provider of education from early years to secondary school, important partners with schools and colleges providing post-16 education, and major employers, no other organisation is better placed, nor has the commitment, to become the linchpin necessary to ensure that local skills needs will be met.

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The Improvement and Development Agency and the Local Government Association have identified some innovative rural community safety projects through the LGA’s rural community safety advisers network and the beacon council scheme. ‘Crime and disorder partnerships’ is a theme of the beacon council scheme for 2004/05, and will ensure that the work of local partnerships receives national recognition.The case studies are: North Northumberland – on preventing alcohol abuse, a joint approach. Boston, South Lincolnshire – on effective use of rural community wardens. Devon County Council – on reducing domestic violence. Hambledon District Council – on problem solving and Stroud, Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury – on partnership working.

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