MPs condemn NHS computer breakdown

IT systems go down in 80 NHS trusts

Tuesday, 01, Aug 2006 12:00

Opposition MPs have raised serious concerns about the multi-billion pound IT programme for the NHS after it emerged that computer services in 80 NHS hospital trusts are down.

NHS Connecting for Health , which is running the programme to introduce electronic prescriptions, patient records and an online booking system, confirmed last night there had been "serious interruption" in services to 80 NHS trusts since Sunday morning.

Staff at the affected trusts, all of which have had new computer systems installed under the programme, have been forced to return to using paper records until the problem is fixed, although a Connecting for Health spokesman insisted no information had been lost.

"The issues are administrative, such as dealing with admissions, patient tracking, the transfer of in-patient waiting lists and out-patient appointments," he said.

Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien warned that the breakdown in computer services proved that despite massive investment – up to £20 billion over ten years – the NHS IT programme "continues to be left wanting".

"[Health secretary] Patricia Hewitt and her crisis-ridden Department of Health must now take direct responsibility, despite its financial incompetence and flawed procurement processes, to put right yet another IT meltdown," he warned.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said the reported problems were "very alarming", adding: "The NHS cannot rely on a computer system that is only right most of the time.

"If medical information is not available or supplied in error then the effect on patients can be fatal. Serious questions must be asked about whether the proper safeguards were put in place before this system went online."

The health service IT programme aims to connect up to 30,000 GPs with nearly 300 hospitals by 2014, and many aspects are already in place.

A recent National Audit Office report revealed that 12 per cent of hospital appointment bookings were using the new choose and book system, while electronic prescriptions were used in 15 per cent of GP surgeries.

However, the spending watchdog warned the care records scheme, which would allow doctors access to patients' medical records across the NHS, was running two years late, and said more needed to be done to encourage staff confidence in the new systems.