Patient UK
Encyclopedia
Patient UK or Patient.co.uk is an online
resource providing information on health
, lifestyle, disease
and other medical related topics. The website's aim is to provide members of the public with up-to-date information on health related topics in the form of comprehensive leaflets which can be read online or printed. Leaflets are compiled by qualified medical practitioners with several years of experience in the medical profession. According to an article in the Daily Telegraph from 2006, the site is a "gateway to some of the most reliable online health resources".
. In December 2002 PIP joined forces with Egton Medical Information Systems
(EMIS) to relaunch the site as an information providing service. The content of Patient UK was extensively revised and updated, its aim being to offer interested parties a reliable and comprehensive source of health and disease information. In April 2008, EMIS acquired PIP's share of Patient UK, but the company's partners remain involved as consultant editors and lead authors.
s. Users can register with the site, allowing them to book appointments with their own GP
and order repeat prescriptions
. However, this is only possible if the user's surgery uses EMIS computer software, although the system is used by most practices. Information on Patient UK is updated to keep abreast of the latest medical thinking, with each leaflet reviewed every two years or as and when necessary (whichever comes first).
Writing in the Oxford Journal of Occupational Medicine
on the subject of educating his patients about health matters, physician Andrew Mounstephen says of Patient.co.uk; "[...] I have found a great help in performing this education and information providing role. The Daily Telegraph has described Patient UK as a "gateway to some of the most reliable online health resources", while The Good Web Guide calls the site "well-designed and clear". A Times
article from 2007 describes the information on Patient.co.uk as "simple and easily accessible" and produced by doctor.
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
resource providing information on health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, lifestyle, disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
and other medical related topics. The website's aim is to provide members of the public with up-to-date information on health related topics in the form of comprehensive leaflets which can be read online or printed. Leaflets are compiled by qualified medical practitioners with several years of experience in the medical profession. According to an article in the Daily Telegraph from 2006, the site is a "gateway to some of the most reliable online health resources".
History
Patient UK was first launched in 1997 as a directory of UK websites providing health related information, and was originally operated by Patient Information Publications (PIP), a company established by two medical professionalsHealth care provider
A health care provider is an individual or an institution that provides preventive, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to individuals, families or communities....
. In December 2002 PIP joined forces with Egton Medical Information Systems
Egton Medical Information Systems
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited, known as EMIS and part of EMIS Group plc, is a software company that develops and supplies computer systems used by over half of all General Practices in the United Kingdom, and also internationally, to electronically store patient notes...
(EMIS) to relaunch the site as an information providing service. The content of Patient UK was extensively revised and updated, its aim being to offer interested parties a reliable and comprehensive source of health and disease information. In April 2008, EMIS acquired PIP's share of Patient UK, but the company's partners remain involved as consultant editors and lead authors.
The site
Patient UK contains straightforward and easily accessible health-related information produced by a team of doctorPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s. Users can register with the site, allowing them to book appointments with their own GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
and order repeat prescriptions
Medical prescription
A prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist....
. However, this is only possible if the user's surgery uses EMIS computer software, although the system is used by most practices. Information on Patient UK is updated to keep abreast of the latest medical thinking, with each leaflet reviewed every two years or as and when necessary (whichever comes first).
Writing in the Oxford Journal of Occupational Medicine
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
on the subject of educating his patients about health matters, physician Andrew Mounstephen says of Patient.co.uk; "[...] I have found a great help in performing this education and information providing role. The Daily Telegraph has described Patient UK as a "gateway to some of the most reliable online health resources", while The Good Web Guide calls the site "well-designed and clear". A Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
article from 2007 describes the information on Patient.co.uk as "simple and easily accessible" and produced by doctor.
External links
- Patient UK
- Patient UK at DirectgovDirectgovDirectgov is the UK government's digital service for people in the United Kingdom, providing a single point of access to public sector information and services.The content is developed by government departments, working with a central Directgov team...