UK hospitals adopt cloud platform

NHS patients could soon have control over their medical records and the power to decide who has access to their data, reports the Financial Times.

A pilot scheme at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is seeking to speed up communication between patients, consultants and general practitioners by using cloud computing.

Researchers at the hospital are working with Edinburgh Napier University to show how the paper-based system could be replaced with an e-health platform.

Describing this as 'empowering' for patients, founder of Flexiant - which has developed the cloud platform - Tony Lucas, added that the cloud computing scheme may also boost record standards and help professionals in different parts of the NHS more easily share information, writes BCS.

The Guardian reports that according to Professor Bill Buchanan of Edinburgh Napier University, the UK often has a non-integrated approach to patient care, and data is not used effectively between GPs, hospitals and assisted living.

“Our system allows for data to be stored with its context, such as where it was captured, and then used in whatever way is necessary through well-managed clinical services,” he said.