NHS project may prescribe courts revamp

DIGITAL TELEVISION: London solicitor behind nurse-staffed call centre for health consultation on screen

The Court Service is following the progress of an NHS pilot scheme using interactive digital television, to see whether elements of it can help modernise the civil justice system.NHS Direct In Vision, to be launched in Birmingham in August by a company whose directors include a solicitor at London law firm Mishcon de Reya, will allow users to telephone a nurse-staffed call centre - part of the NHS Direct scheme - for a consultation and see the nurse on their TV screen.Throughout the consultation, it will be possible for the nurse to pull up graphics and run video on the screen to help diagnosis.A Court Service spokesperson said: 'There is tremendous scope for making information available to the public through interactive television.

We shall be taking a very keen interest in the pilot's progress to see if there are any points of learning that can be taken to the court process.'Funded to the tune of 3.8 million by the Department of Health, the NHS service will be available on 'Living Health' digital interactive TV channel, a joint venture between cable company, Telewest, and Eden Communications, a strategic consultancy specialising in the delivery of e-government services to citizens.

Telewest subscribers will have access to it.

The hope is that 'Living Health' will be rolled out nationally next year.Eden director Simon Gallant, a media law specialist and consultant at Mishcon de Reya, said: 'The government has set an agenda to deliver all services electronically by 2005 as a means of tackling social exclusion and using digital TV is a perfect option.'Mr Gallant has made a presentation to the Court Service about the pilot scheme.

'If the Court Service used a template similar to the NHS, not only could the public access information, but professionals could issue court documents and access court files from home,' he said.

'These measures and the potential to centralise back office functions at county courts would lead to far greater efficiency.'The Court Service's consultation paper on modernising the civil courts, published earlier this year, proposed using the Internet and digital TV to make small claims with the court.Ian Magee, chief executive of the Court Service, said at the time: 'Modern technology allows the court into people's living rooms and offices, making our services available at times and in ways that suit our customers.'Andrew Towler