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New IT qualification aims to prepare NHS staff for healthcare IT systems

A new IT skills qualification for health workers, accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), was unveiled at the HC 2008 conference.

The NHS ELITE (NHS eLearning IT Essentials) qualification aims to help consolidate the IT skills of NHS staff by offering IT training on topics including using a keyboard and mouse, email, and web and file management.

The new qualification is designed to complement the NHS Health Unit for users of healthcare systems, now known as NHS Health (NHS eLearning for Health Information Systems).

Both qualifications are part of the joint BCS/NHS Essential IT Skills (EITS) Programme funded by NHS Connecting for Health. The programme aims to ensure front line NHS staff have access to training which will develop their basic IT skills and that they understand their responsibilities in regards to accessing and handling patient information on the new systems and services.

Claire Adams, programme manager for NHS Connecting for Health, said: "I am delighted to be working with the BCS to provide access to essential IT skills training for clinical and non-clinical health care staff over the next three years.

"By funding access to learning materials, registrations, tests, accreditation and certification, NHS Connecting for Health is taking advantage of national economies of scale to help meet local NHS needs.

"The endorsement of the BCS accreditations for both NHS ELITE and NHS Health provides NHS staff with a credible and professional qualification and we look forward to working with the BCS to continue to develop the Essential IT Skills Programme."

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NHS Connecting for Health

British Computer Society

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