Middlesbrough PCT offers reporting software for free

Middlesbrough PCT has developed a browser-based statistical reporting system for Practice Based Commissioning and is making it available for free to any other PCT.

The Middlesbrough PCT Information, Data and Statistics (MIDAS) programme allows GPs and practice managers to see visual representations of a large number of statistics, including inpatient and outpatient activity, payment by results tariff costs and GP referrals.

The system also uses Ordnance Survey data to map statistics across a geographical area; for instance, a map of asthma cases by region in Middlesbrough can be easily generated.

MIDAS, which was developed in-house by the PCT, plots each graphs above each table giving a clear pictoral representation of the data in a ‘point and click’ environment. The free software was generating interest from at least one other PCT at Middlesbrough’s stand at the Healthcare Computing 2006 show in Harrogate.

Steve Moore, corporate information manager at Middlesbrough PCT told E-Health Insider at his stand at Harrogate 2006: "What we want is something that GPs and practice manager could use without seeing a spreadsheet or a PivotTable data."

The software was developed about a year ago while the PCT was waiting for a national solution.

MIDAS and systems provided by Dr Foster were comparable in quality, said Moore, although Middlesbrough’s system only has access to its own data and can’t compare it with other PCTs.

Moore explained why the PCT had decided to give MIDAS away. "We are an NHS organisation," he said. "We treat patients. We don’t supply software. We can’t go into the business of supplying software."

While the PCT is happy to give away the software, Moore said he can only offer very limited support and PCTs should use their own local resources to implement it. Yet these would be the same resources that would need to implement commercial solutions. "The only way we can share it for the NHS is you can have the software but we don’t support it."

Moore added that out of all the exhibitors at HC2006 "I think we’re the only stand giving things away".

Screenshots of MIDAS are available to NHSNet users only at http://nww.middlesbroughpct.nhs.uk/midasdemo. For more information about the system and how to get hold of it, e-mail Steve Moore at steve.moore@middlesbroughpct.nhs.uk.