In an information strategy published on Wednesday, alongside the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services, the government outlined the key role to be played by IT systems. The £6bn NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) will underpin important areas of the framework. This will ensure, for example, that data used in caring for children, young people and mothers is available for use in the NHS Care Record and the data spine system.
It raises the possibility that the private-sector Local Service Providers running the major computer systems for the NPfIT may have to implement extra requirements to those already in their contracts in order to incorporate children's services.
The strategy document also contains recommendations for cross agency working. It says that the Department for Education and Skills will lead work to scope out how new IT systems might facilitate cooperation between different agencies which deal with children's and maternity services.
Ministers have suggested that digital TV and text message services could be used under the strategy in order to give children health and social care advice. Using computer games, cartoon characters and mobile phones to remind children to take medicines were among the suggestions to make the NHS more friendly.
Community health minister Stephen Ladyman said that testing services and games provided on satellite TV stations, such as the Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, could provide effective ways to get health advice across to children. "Why shouldn't Spongebob Squarepants (a cult cartoon character) start delivering health messages?" the minister said.
Ladyman said one London primary care trust was already providing young people with advice on sexual health via text messaging. He said that the service allowed teenagers to build up trust with staff, and could encourage them to visit sexual health clinics.
The national service framework is a 10-year plan for improving health and social care for children, young people and their families. Overall, it sets out 11 standards that NHS trusts and local authorities must implement by 2014. The standards cover a broad range of areas including mental health, medicines, asthma, autism and disabled needs.
