I’m a member of the Cabinet Office Skunkworks project ‘dotgovlabs‘, where ‘innovators’ post ‘solutions’ in different ‘challenge’ areas. Rather than write anything more (that you won’t read) about dotgotlabs, here is a video produced to explain the project … including me and others with great faces for radio.

With interests in open source, open standards and interoperability and with experience in and around the NHS, I’ve contributed to many solutions posted in the Healthcare challenge.  I’ve commented on the interoperability challenges facing ‘Solutions’ such as ‘Give Patients Access to Data’ (a challenge involving Patient Opinion and MyDex, see previous post on Brent Council opening up resident data access) and on the use of social media in healthcare solutions … and the privacy implications there in….

I’ve been contributing heavily to a solution posted by Tim Knight which proposed greater use of open source practices in the NHS – provisionally titled Open Me Project (login req; email me for invitation).

The goal of the solution is to provide a framework and supporting tools for the collaborative development of open source solutions for NHS organisations and commercial healthcare providers. The solution has been voted up to progress from ‘Buzz’ stage to ‘Teaming’ stage.

As part of the incubation process for solutions, DotGovLabs have engaged the support of Experts from Departments of state and the Private Sector to give feedback and pose challenging questions to teams. This weekend David Ostler, Chairman of unitedHealth posted feedback on our solution and several others.  I thought I would repost the exchange here. Read the rest of this entry »

Brent council says use of Mydex’s online personal data service will improve the quality of information it holds on us residents, allowing us to see if the information Brent holds on them is up to date and accurate.

Mydex’s mission is to help individuals realise the value of their personal data. They do this by providing individuals with Personal Data Stores and related services. Personal Data Stores help individuals gather, store, manage, use and share the information they need to manage their lives better. They provide individuals with tools to control what information they share with which people and organisations, when.

Brent are one of broad range of participants from across the public and private sectors taking part in the Mydex Community Prototype.

I’m really pleased that Brent is opening us access to data; I’m even more pleased that the programme to open up access to personal data is using the MyDex service as I believe that Mydex is the best way of retaining ownership and control over personal data as it flows from individuals to organisations.

Dane Wright, ICT strategy manager at Brent council, stressed that the initiative is still very much in its infancy, but added that the council has started inviting citizens and staff who live in Brent to register with Mydex.

Now, how do I get an invitation?

A new record set at Brent Town Hall for a sub-committee meeting. 70 or more local residents present for Licensing Committee hearing on the extension of the License of the Herritage Inn.

Just a quick post while the Councillors get legal advice on the adjournment request from the applicant.

With Brent Council is proposing to “change the way residents experience libraries in the borough” let’s remember that libraries are More Than Books.

Friends of the libraries under threat of closure by Brent & Friend of Libraries NOT under threat are campaigning to change the Councils plans. Keep up with the campaign and volunteer your support, ideas, skills and stories at More Than Books.

Here are two wordles created from the feedback on the GPCC launch event speaker feedback forms and the group activities from the afternoon.