IT must improve, say directors

The amount of money social services have spent on IT is
"a pittance" compared to NHS spending, the seminar was told.

Mike Leadbetter said resources were a key issue
while another was confidentiality.

"In a patient survey we carried out in
Essex 70 per cent did not want information shared with social service outside
the NHS," he added.

But sharing information was vital, said Michael
Frater, chief executive of Telford and Wrekin Council. Citing the example of
teaching he said: "What the teacher needs to know is that the accident and
emergency department have seen a child many times and flagged up concerns."