Addenbrooke’s To Develop Web-based Cancer System

Addenbrooke’s Hospital is to build a Web-based clinical cancer information system for use within the trust over NHSnet and by other partners in the local health economy.

Called the Joint Clinical Information System project, the project is being run by three project partners – Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust in Cambridge, the University of Cambridge and the West Anglia Cancer Network.

The stored data will facilitate applied research, which may help improve outcomes for cancer patients in the future. It is planned that this system will extend for use across other services in the Trust, as well as across the region’s cancer network.

An initial pilot phase will see the system being used in the Cambridge Breast Unit and Gynaecological Oncology at Addenbrooke’s, Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough hospitals. It is due to be in use by April 2003.

Once in operation the new system should allow clinical and administrative staff to use a convenient web-browser interface for entering and viewing treatment information, including images, letters and care plans.

The Joint Clinical information System will be developed using Dataline Software’s net.db product, which allows easy integration of relational databases while offering strong security and scalability.

Speaking about the new system, Charles Wilson, Clinical Director of Oncology at Addenbrooke’s, said: “This is an important opportunity for the Cancer Network in West Anglia to demonstrate how clinical IT can greatly improve the delivery of care.”

The Joint Clinical Information system is being developed by Cambridge University staff, while project funding is being provided by Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Local Information Strategy Communities, University Department of Oncology, and Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust.