LOCAL GOVERNMENT MOVING SLOWLY TO MOBILE AND FLEXIBLE WORKING

Local authorities are in the early stages of making fundamental changes in the way they run public services by adopting mobile technology. This is the conclusion of a report from the Mobile Data Association following an extensive survey of local councils. Some 15% of authorities are equipping their staff with laptop computers, personal digital assistants and smart phones. As a result, benefits officers are now processing claims and social care workers assessing needs in people’s homes. Building and health inspectors are completing inspections on the spot, rather than having to return to base.

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REGISTRY OFFICES HIT BY COMPUTER FAILURE

Severe operating problems are being experienced with the new IT system for registering births and deaths. About half the Registry Offices across England and Wales have reverted to manual records local systems. The system, RON – register on line, which was developed and operated by the Office for National Statistics, performed well during the pilot running, but problems emerged as the national roll out was extended. Difficulties started to appear in the middle of March. Registration of marriages is not affected, because they dealt with by another system.

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By David Hinchliffe The author, a former MP and Health Select Committee Chairman, describes a personal experience of the divide between health and social care. The divide is narrowing and he looks to the future where technology could lead to jointly operated telecare monitoring centres and multi-disciplinary monitoring.