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EDITORIALS: Michael Humber National programme for information technology BMJ 2004; 328: 1145-1146 [Full text]

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Open source... or Microsoft

L Duvika Mewasingh, Bart Lenoir (System Administrator)   (17 May 2004)

Risk of expensive non consented information overload

John Sharvill   (19 May 2004)

Open source... or Microsoft 17 May 2004
L Duvika Mewasingh, Paediatric Neurologist Children's Univ Hospital, Brussels, Bart Lenoir (System Administrator) Send response to journal: Re: Open source... or Microsoft	While the NHS IT goals will very likely launch it into the world of cyberspace with its near-limitless possibilities, we were unable to find out either from the article or the government website whether this would entail use of 'open source' technology (ie free for all) or not. Such technology is used by agencies such as NASA, European parliament and several governments (USA, Japan etc) for both online and offline applications. Unlike open source (Linux), commercialised software is constantly riddled with viruses, worms,...undermining the reliability of these systems and further adding to their cost. Competing interests: None declared
Risk of expensive non consented information overload 19 May 2004
John Sharvill, GP Deal Kent ct14 71u Send response to journal: Re: Risk of expensive non consented information overload	I work both in a paper light Family practice and a computer free hospital (rather there is one on every desk but yet to be turned on). It is frustrating in the extreme not to be able to access recent result and discharge information when doing my hospital job when the patient is consulting. However I am amazed at the price tag being given to this project. I am also aware that old informaion is usualy cluter and most of what is buried in old paper noted can stay buried.What we don't need is volumes of electronic clutter. When are the public going to be asked if they want their medical information held centrally for all to access - before or after the money is spent, before or after it is entered and what happens to those who decline? Where does the private sector fit in? Some of the many questions that were not answered in this article Competing interests: None declared