The Ministry of Health is developing a new website which will allow doctors, nurses and other specialists in the health sector to come together online to share information and discuss specific topics.

Alan Spinks, national programme manager for quality improvement and innovation, said the website will have some of the social networking features of Facebook and Beebo, and will facilitate online discussions amongst clinicians in public and private forums.

"The key driver for this project is to facilitate learning and discussion amongst specialist groups such as doctors, nurses and quality managers by providing them a secure online platform to discuss, and share best practice and information without having to develop their own website," Mr Spinks explained.

Formally called the Health Improvement and Innovation Resource Centre, the website (www.hiirc.org.nz) will feature a "knowledge library" of latest New Zealand research on health sector productivity, and quality and access to health care.

"There will be information on successful initiatives developed in New Zealand - what works here, how they are implemented, and who to go to for information and assistance," according to Mr Spinks.

"The website will also support communications across the health sector including email, web video conferences and audio conferences," he added.

The website, which is being developed by Research New Zealand, will be up and running this July.

Initial topic areas include the Government's six health targets - shorter stays in emergency departments, improved access to elective surgery, shorter waits for cancer treatment, increased immunisation, better help for smokers to quit, and better diabetes and cardiovascular services.