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| NHS told to ditch 'absurd' fax machines | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The NHS will be banned from buying fax machines from next month - and has been told by the government to phase out the machines entirely by 31 March 2020. | The NHS will be banned from buying fax machines from next month - and has been told by the government to phase out the machines entirely by 31 March 2020. |
| In July, the Royal College of Surgeons revealed nearly 9,000 fax machines were in use across the NHS in England. | In July, the Royal College of Surgeons revealed nearly 9,000 fax machines were in use across the NHS in England. |
| The Department of Health said a change to more modern communication methods was needed to improve patient safety and cyber security. | The Department of Health said a change to more modern communication methods was needed to improve patient safety and cyber security. |
| An RCS spokesman said they supported the government's decision. | An RCS spokesman said they supported the government's decision. |
| In place of fax machines, the Department of Health said secure email should be used. | In place of fax machines, the Department of Health said secure email should be used. |
| Richard Kerr, who is the chair of the RCS's commission on the future of surgery, said the continued use of the outdated technology by the NHS was "absurd". | Richard Kerr, who is the chair of the RCS's commission on the future of surgery, said the continued use of the outdated technology by the NHS was "absurd". |
| He added it was "crucial" that the health service invested in "better ways of communicating the vast amount of patient information that is going to be generated" in the future. | He added it was "crucial" that the health service invested in "better ways of communicating the vast amount of patient information that is going to be generated" in the future. |
| The group's report from earlier this year found the use of fax machines was most common at the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust, which still relied on 603 machines. | The group's report from earlier this year found the use of fax machines was most common at the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust, which still relied on 603 machines. |
| Three-quarters of the trusts in England replied to the survey - 95 in total. Ten trusts said that they did not own any fax machines, but four in ten reported more than 100 in use. | Three-quarters of the trusts in England replied to the survey - 95 in total. Ten trusts said that they did not own any fax machines, but four in ten reported more than 100 in use. |
| Fax facts | Fax facts |