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e-Health: 'Put patient care first' - European Federation of Nurses Associations

Sir,

Regarding 'Study: eHealth strategies focus 'too much' on ICT': 

People in the Commission have finally started understanding. There has been much critisism towards health care professionals, who are perceived as not being involved enough in e-Health. But patient care must always come first. I totally agree with Tom Jones and I hope he can push the agenda in this direction if we are to make progress. 

It is not by following conferences on e-Health that we will make progress. We need to get to the frontline workers - the health workers who care daily. Nurses are committed but they need support to make sure patient care is not put at risk when they are outside their setting. 

Human resources for health are crucial. According to Jones, organisational change can be achieved by freeing up medical staff's time for e-Health purposes and training, as well as re-designing current working and clinical practices. Furthermore, "we need clinical executive leadership and effective engagement of doctors and nurses."

Paul De Raeve 

General Secretary

European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN ) 

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