England`s primary care services are among the most advanced users of healthcare IT systems in the world, according to research.

More than 90% of primary care clinicians in England enter patient notes on to a computer system during or after consultations, found Accenture`s survey of 3,700 physicians and 160 health leaders from a number of countries. This is a higher level than countries such as the US, Canada, Germany, Singapore and Spain.

However, secondary care services, or specialty care, may be lagging behind primary care and could undermine integrated care delivery, the report said.

Jim Burke, leader of Accenture`s healthcare business in the UK and Ireland, said: "Although the use of healthcare IT functionality is widespread across England there is a notable disparity between care settings.

"Clearly more needs to be done in secondary care in order to develop greater connectivity across the English healthcare system."

The report, Connected Health: The Drive to Integrated Healthcare Delivery, considered factors such as e-referrals, e-ordering, e-prescribing, communications with other clinicians and electronic entry of patient notes.

Copyright Press Association 2012

The UK`s four chief medical officers have written to healthcare professionals about the risk posed by vitamin D deficiency.

Almost one in four people in the UK have low levels of vitamin D, according to figures, while most pregnant women do not take supplements to boost their levels.

 Primary care services workers have been reminded to use their contact with at-risk groups to alert people to the importance of taking supplements. Healthcare professionals have also been told to look out for the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Severe cases of deficiency can result in bone problems such as aches, pains and weakness due to osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said: "A significant proportion of people in the UK probably have inadequate levels of vitamin D in their blood.

"People at risk of vitamin D deficiency, including pregnant women and children under five, are already advised to take daily supplements.

"Our experts are clear - low levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of poor bone health, including rickets in young children."

Copyright Press Association 2012

Britons and people living in other high-income countries are among those most likely to suffer with neck pain, according to a study.

Those residing in high-income countries are more susceptible to the problem than those in low or middle-income countries, the study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found. Women are more likely to suffer with neck pain than men, while office and computer workers are also prone to the problem.

Spinal manipulation carried out by osteopaths or other people in allied health professional jobs was found to be better at relieving symptoms than medication. Workers short on time often choose medication, whether it is prescribed over-the-counter or by those in GP jobs , as they are reluctant to leave work for treatment.

But patients who were taught self-massage techniques rather than just relying on help from professionals also benefited more than people on medication.

British Osteopathic Association head of professional development Kelston Chorley said: "Pain relief medication can be expensive and learning self-massage techniques mean individuals can be empowered to help manage their pain.

"Further, where medication is ineffective, this can result in ongoing problems that could have been resolved earlier and may even worsen as a result. This can mean people have to take time off work for extended periods."

Copyright Press Association 2012

A nurse from Guy and St Thomas` hospital has been handed one of the most important nursing jobs at the Olympic Games.

Tracy Holmes, who usually works as a site nurse practitioner, has taken on the role of venue medical manager at the London 2012 Games. Ms Holmes will ensure top athletes like Usain Bolt and Jessica Ennis are looked after, as well as members of the public.

Ms Holmes will be based at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and will be in charge of a team of medical staff who will organise the care of athletes and the public. She will ensure anyone who is injured or taken ill on site will be treated by the relevant medical staff, while serious cases will be sent to a nearby hospital.

She said: "In the build-up to the Games I`ll be involved in setting up the medical treatment area in the Olympic Stadium. I`ll work closely with other venue medical managers so treatment areas in each Olympic venue are exact mirror images of each other to enable medical staff to work easily in any venue, and be able to find everything quickly.

"We`ll also get involved in `test events` at the venue so medical staff can practise their roles, and to check that I rota enough staff to look after the crowd and the Olympians."

Copyright Press Association 2012