Tuesday 27 January 2009

Warning over fresh NHS IT delays

The introduction of computerised NHS patient records in England could be hit by more delays, MPs warn. The Committee on Public Accounts has thrown fresh doubt on a 2015 deadline for the ambitious £12bn project.

Its chairman said that even in trusts already using parts of the system, staff were unimpressed and the cost to the NHS was uncertain. The government said new IT systems in the NHS were delivering "better, safer and faster care".
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"Essential systems are late, or, when deployed, do not meet expectations of clinical staff", Edward Leigh MP, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee
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The NHS Programme for IT in England, which aims to allow information about patients to be shared securely between hospitals and GP practices, has been dogged by problems since its launch in 2002. The project was originally intended to be completed by next year, but its complexity has delayed this by up to five years.
Nice work if you can get it!

Source: BBC

2 comments:

AntiCitizenOne said...

"shared securely" is an oxymoron.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Good point. I hadn't spotted that.