NHS IT savings
Friday, 14 Mar 2008 10:28
Figures showing limited savings made by the NHS' IT upgrade programme have attracted criticism for the government.
The Department of Health's benefits statement, based on statistics from one in five NHS trusts, predicts savings of £1.14 billion by 2014.
It says there were £208 million of savings to March 31st 2007, of which £192 million have been gained through the delivery of the national network for the NHS which underpins many applications.
Computer technology upgrades for the NHS have been a key plank of the NHS Plan, launched by the government in 2000.
The ten-year programme intends to introduce electronic patient record, appointment and prescription services into the NHS, along with new email systems and broadband access for all health service staff.
Opposition parties are not critical of the extent of the programme, but its administration and implementation remain sources of concern.
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