ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the new developments in national health service information technology ; some of the advantages and disadvantages of these developments to practices and patients; some of the security and confidentiality issues practices need to consider in managing the risk wisely; and some of the best ways practices can use information to assist their clinical and business development. Whatever management systems support primary care, there will be an increasing need to establish a reliable and coherent information base of patient related data. One of the challenges to general practice is to shift the information culture and encourage both clinicians and staff to interrogate their databases effectively —maybe giving them the protected and paid time to do so would help. One of the challenges to general practice generally is to shift the information culture and encourage both clinicians and staff to interrogate their databases effectively—giving them protected and paid time to do so would help.
