Patient safety 'at risk' due to NHS IT delays
The new system will have a national patients' database
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Thursday, 17, May 2007 08:06
Patient safety is being put at risk by continuing delays to the implementation of the NHS IT modernisation system, senior NHS staff have warned.
The NHS IT programme is expected to cost over £12 billion and includes a nationally accessible summary of patients' records.
Senior managers and clinicians in a range of financial, IT and clinical roles interviewed about the system unreservedly supported the goals of the project but said they had a number of concerns.
They were questioned 18 months apart to compare progress and see how views had changed.
The results, published in the British Medical Journal, showed that financial deficits were a concern in the first round of interviews and were even more acute in the latter stage.
Fears were also raised that managers could not focus on implementing the system because of competing financial priorities.
Connecting for Health, the agency responsible for delivering the programme, was said by some to be providing poor communication and a lack of clarity.
Some staff said that delays now mean that existing technology may not be fit for purpose and this represents an unacceptable risk to patient safety.
Professor Naomi Fulop of King's College London, said: "It's crucial that patient information is stored and accessed via a robust, secure IT system. While the delays continue, IT networks are becoming outdated and there is a real risk that patient care could be compromised."
Dr Jane Hendy of Imperial College London added: "We recommend that Connecting for Health urgently address the current uncertainty experienced by trusts and take responsibility for advising about interim decisions.
"Against other competing financial pressures, trust managers need assistance to prioritise IT modernisation, with solutions that can be delivered quickly, are value-for-money and are consistent with the programme's overall goals."