23 January 2008

Public health minister to visit pioneering health information centres

(***Note: There will be photo opportunities during the visit, between 3 pm and 3.30 pm at the Clinical Technology Centre, level 7, Ninewells main building and between 3.40 pm and 4.30 pm at the Health Informatics Centre, Mackenzie Building, Kirsty Semple Way ***)

The joint efforts being made by the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside to develop the strongest technological tools to monitor the nation’s health and use them to benefit patients will be seen by Scotland’s Minister for Public Health Shona Robison MSP this week.

Ms Robison will be visiting the Clinical Technology Centre and the Health Informatics Centre - both joint ventures between the University and NHS Tayside -at Ninewells Hospital & Medical School on Friday January 25th from 3 pm.

During her visit the Minister will be shown how information technology can protect patients’ privacy simply and effectively while allowing vital medical research based on individual records to continue apace.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit the Mackenzie Building and to meet some of the 150 staff who work there," said Ms Robison.

"I'm aware of the successful history of the Health Informatics Centre since its opening in 2003 in attracting approximately £15.5 million of grants from the major research funding organisations to do important work on improving the outcomes of dental and medical care."

"The Centre is an outstanding example of partnership between the University of Dundee, NHS Tayside and NHS National Services Scotland."

"I'm looking forward to seeing the research facilities and having a chance to hear about the multidisciplinary work ongoing at the Centre, which is a national resource that benefits the people of Scotland."

During her tour Ms Robison will be given an insight into how the Health Informatics Centre is improving patient safety, dental health and the management of long-term conditions, developing new research across a wide array of health services and applying new technology to the benefit of patients across Tayside and the rest of Scotland.

Part of the visit will include a presentation from Professor Nigel Pitts of the Dental Health Services Research Unit, showing how informatics and collaborations across health services can improve dental care and services.

The work carried out at the CTC and HIC uses modern anonymisation technologies so that patients' privacy can be simply and effectively protected while allowing vital medical research based on individual records to continue.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk