Re: Warning of major NHS IT overspend

[Adrian Midgley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>]

On Monday 01 November 2004 09:36, Brian Beesley wrote:

> > and that locally relevant documents that require a lot
> > of storage (such as a decently readable scan of an x-ray) will be
> > retained in analogue film form at the point of generation, and only a
> > reference made in the database as to their existance.

Remember that analogue films are on the way out.
It is unlikely that a new X-ray department would be built in the UK that was 
not a direct digital one - Picture Archiving - PAC systems are popular for 
several reasons, but one that may not be entirely appreciated is that if you 
consider the bits around a film or several films, like somewhere to walk to 
get them and so on, the volume of storage required in the hospital for film 
may be both larger and more expensive than the volume required for digital 
images.

The detectors also (I gather) are more sensitive than the emulsion, so the 
radiation dose to the population is lower.  THat is counfounded by various 
improvements, but seems likely in itself anyway.

Old films getting scanned in, yes, a job.
-- 
Adrian Midgley                   Open Source software is better
GP, Exeter                       http://www.defoam.net/