Hi-tech health

An estimated 2.5% of the Health Service's €11 billion budget will be spent on technology.

An estimated 2.5% of the Health Service's €11 billion budget will be spent on technology.

* The Health Service Executive recently signed a 56 million contract with software firm iSOFT to provide a standard Electronic Patient Records package for all hospitals.

* An ICGP survey in 2003 found that just under half of GPs kept most of their clinical notes on computer.

* Tallaght Hospital has the only digital X-ray unit in Britain and Ireland, saving time and space in storing images.

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* A hand-held ultrasound device, produced by Sonosite, is being tested in Ireland.