The new information management strategy of the NHS will make support of clinical activity its most important function. The final strategy is due to be published in late July.

Frank Burns, head of NHS Information Management and Technology, told an audience of NHS information technology professionals in London last week that the function of the systems would be to support the “capture, use, and impact of information on health care and population health,” with “seamless, integrated, person based records.”

Mr Burns criticised the present system of “tribalised professional …