NHS delays are a disgrace - Burstow

8.00.00am GMT Tue 27th Jan 2009

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, today expressed frustration at the continual setbacks dogging the implementation of the NHS IT programme.

A report published today by the Public Accounts Committee, of which Mr Burstow is a member, examines the progress that has been made in delivering the IT programme since 2006. Originally all systems were to be fully implemented by 2010 and some are close to or fully completed.

However key systems such as the care records system remain hugely behind schedule and the report is sceptical that it will be finished by the revised target of 2014-15.

The implementation of the systems has been further stalled by two of the four Local Service Providers - suppliers responsible for employing the systems at local level - leaving the programme.

This IT programme is the biggest in history and is estimated to cost £12.7bn. The report also found that the Department of Health will have to pay the programme's suppliers even if a particular trust decides not to deploy the systems the suppliers provide.

Following the publication of the report Mr Burstow said:

'Another year and yet another deadline in this sorry saga is going to go past without being met. The role out of this IT programme is haphazard, inadequate and expensive, not to mention hugely behind schedule.

'There is little enthusiasm for this project within the NHS and it is not difficult to understand why. When essential systems are finally delivered they often do not meet the expectations of clinical staff. While in other Trusts the massive delays have meant they're using interim systems as they wait for the completion of the final care records software.

'The Department of Health has some serious thinking to do. Trusts cannot be expected to install a care records system that doesn't work properly. If progress is not made quickly the Department must begin to think about an alternative rather than blunder on with something which may never work.'