Social workers get magic pens

Greenwich council's social services department has announced a successful pilot that uses digital pens to help streamline its administrative workload.

The pens have been used to remotelyupdate records when social workers go out on house calls. Forms filled out on the move are recorded and saved straight to the council's IT system.

Benefits from using the wireless technology are said to include reduced administration, greater data accuracy, a reduction in lost paperwork and much improved efficiency.

The council now plans to roll out the pens to its entire social services staff and other mobile workers.