IT project disastrous for NHS (Andrew Simpson)

IT project disastrous for NHS

August 29, 2006 1:36 PM

The £6bn NHS IT project is putting patients at risk

Andrew Simpson has labelled the £6 billion project to update the NHS IT system 'disastrous' following damaging revelations about the company commissioned to deliver the package, iSoft.

"The NHS IT Programme lurches from crisis to crisis. Its costs are multiplying, its completion date receding and now one of its major subcontractors is being investigated for financial irregularities.

"Just this month, iSoft's computer system crashed, putting patients across the North West in danger" Andrew said.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, has written to Patricia Hewitt to demand a full independent investigation of the NHS IT programme, after it emerged the company is being probed by regulators on accounting irregularities for 2004 and 2005.

The news prompted MPs to demand an investigation by the Department for Trade & Industry last Wednesday. Only 2 years in, the 10 year project is already suffering massive delays and has met criticism by the chartered institute for IT professionals.

According to The Guardian, the Chair of the British Computer Society has cited a 'lack of planning in certain areas' and claimed that 'a centralised "spine", running the length of the country, may be an unsuitable match for complex NHS structures'.

Lib Dem MP Tim Farrow said: "The case for a full independent review of the NHS IT programme is now undeniable. Failure to do so would be a dereliction of duty by this Government."

To find out more about Lib Dem health policy go to: www.libdems.org.uk/health