eHealth, social media benefit patients

Health authorities in Edinburgh are being urged to embrace social media rather than reject it, because it could help them build links with patients, states Edinburgh News.

The debate over the use of Facebook and Twitter has intensified as more people, including health workers, use it to exchange information.

And while NHS Lothian uses both to communicate messages to patients in the area, the Scottish government has advised that even more could be done

The continued roll out of eHealth is intended to make staff's jobs easier and improve service for patients, reports News Scotsman.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that by 2014, traditional scanning, voice recognition and video conferencing would replace paper files, saving millions of pounds and employee hours.

She added: "Citizens are at the heart of this new strategy, and I want to see the latest eHealth technology used right across the frontline services so they can see the full benefit.

"The NHS doesn't stand still, and the way that services are delivered is constantly adapting - helping to improve quality for patients and efficiency."

The proposals have been backed by the Royal College of Nursing.