Citation
Blake, M. (2004), "UK libraries offered access to database of information for patients", The Electronic Library, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/el.2004.26322aag.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
UK libraries offered access to database of information for patients
UK libraries offered access to database of information for patientswww.SpecialistInfo.com
Libraries across the UK have been granted exclusive free trial access to SpecialistInfo.com, a source of GP and specialist information. SpecialistInfo.com is the UK's most comprehensive Web site for potential patients who need information about medical consultants and GPs. The site was launched by a GP with the aim of reducing inappropriate referrals and in the last year over 22,000 potential patients have registered to use it to help them find out about the people treating them, especially consultants' areas of special expertise.
It is available to any Internet user by subscription, but every UK library can gain a free trial to assess its use, and then subscribe to the www.SpecialistInfo.com Web site at a discounted "public service rate" of £99 (+VAT) to provide free access to all library members.
The SpecialistInfo.com Web site empowers patients to improve their knowledge about their treatment options, and provides a better level of information to every interested party, but especially members of the public.
As well as consultants special interests and expertise, the Web site includes details of clinic times and the different locations at which consultants have clinics so that patients can ask their GP to request a convenient time and place for the consultation in the GP's referral letter. The site features maps showing the location of the hospital clinic making it easy to find the address for their appointment, extremely useful if this is their first visit. It also includes a comprehensive list of all GP practices in the UK, again with maps – helping anyone new to an area to easily locate a convenient practice.