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NHS IT needs overhaul, say Tories

Mon Aug 10 07:32:05 UTC 2009

Tories unveil NHS database plans

Mon Aug 10 08:11:52 UTC 2009

The Conservatives have said they would create huge cost savings for the NHS by scrapping plans for a central database of patient records.

The Conservatives have promised huge cost savings for the NHS by scrapping government plans for a central database of patient records.

Their plans would include electronic medical notes being stored locally by GPs and hospitals and patients having online access to their medical records.

Proposals include electronic medical notes being stored locally by GPs and hospitals and patients having online access to their medical records.

They also say NHS trusts would have more choice over new computer systems.

IT firms such as Google or Microsoft could host the information.

The government said patients were already benefiting from the progress that had been made in online records.

But the government said the Conservatives' plans raised concerns about patient confidentiality.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said proposals to allow NHS patients access to their records online would give people "greater control over their own health care".

The Tories are promising NHS trusts a choice of computer systems, rather than having a single one imposed.

Every patient would have a username and password and IT firms such as Google or Microsoft could host the information.

Every patient would have a username and password and could update their records with information like blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Users could update their medical records with information like blood pressure and cholesterol levels, he added.

Behind schedule

Behind schedule

The £12bn NHS IT programme in England has been dogged by problems since its launch in 2002.

Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We want to give patients the ability to give themselves greater control over their information."

It is the world's largest civilian IT project and aims to replace hundreds of different computer systems in hospitals and GP practices with new, compatible versions that will allow NHS staff anywhere in England to access patients' medical records.

NHS IT will only succeed in improving patient care if information is held locally and centred on the patient
Dr Glyn Hayes 		He added: "If we hold the data locally it's more likely to be protected than within this massive [NHS] database...

Choose and Book, e-prescriptions and digital systems for viewing and storing X-rays and other scans are also included in the programme.

"There's always a need to protect data, whether it's in the public or private sector.

It is thought the project is now five years behind schedule. Although some parts have been implemented successfully, there have been problems in the upgrading of computer systems in hospitals and getting the electronic patient record up and running.

"What has to happen is to focus on patients' health and improve their outcomes."

An independent review commissioned by shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien concluded that the national programme had been too centralised, making it inefficient and leading to overspending.

The £12bn NHS programme in England - the world's largest civilian IT scheme - has been dogged by problems since its launch in 2002.

Patient records should be stored locally rather than on a national database, with the capability of transferring the information when necessary, it said.

It aims to replace hundreds of different computer systems in hospitals and GP practices with compatible versions which allow staff to access patients' medical records.

NHS IT will only succeed in improving patient care if information is held locally and centred on the patient
Dr Glyn Hayes
And local trusts should be able to choose their computer system from a catalogue of agreed providers rather than having it imposed on them, it added.

It is thought the project is five years behind schedule.

Contracts in place with IT service providers - two out of four of whom have already pulled out of the project - should be brought to a halt and renegotiated to "prevent further inefficiencies", the review advised.

Although some parts have been implemented successfully, there have been problems in upgrading computer systems in hospitals and setting up the electronic patient record.

'Shambolic'

The Tories say contracts in place with IT service providers - two out of four of whom have already pulled out - should be brought to a halt and renegotiated to "prevent further inefficiencies".

Scaling back the project to a local level, removing the need for a central body to oversee the programme, and generating more competition between a larger number of suppliers would all save the NHS money, it said.

But Health Minister Ann Keen said: "The Tories need to make it very clear how their plans will ensure patient confidentiality.

The Conservatives said they would also consult patients on how much control they wanted over their medical records.

Detailed care records will continue to be held locally in an electronic form, enabling hospitals and GPs to easily access information
Department of Health spokesman 		"We have already set out our plans to give patients greater access to health information, for example through Healthspace where patients can see their summary care record."

Mr O'Brien said the proposals would deliver huge cost savings and ensure that NHS IT was geared towards the needs and wishes of patients.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Patients are now directly benefiting from the modernisation of NHS IT - including being able to make their first outpatient appointment through Choose and Book, new digital images and a new electronic prescriptions service."

He called the handling of the programme to date "shambolic" and said the top-down, bureaucratic approach had been "hugely disruptive to the NHS".

He added that the programme was already being delivered locally, with "detailed care records" continuing to be held in an electronic form.

Dr Glyn Hayes, chair of the review, said: "The review makes clear that NHS IT will only succeed in improving patient care if information is held locally and centred on the patient.

The government has made it clear to the companies contracted to deliver the upgrades that it expects further significant progress by the end of November, he said.

"I hope this report helps redeem the national programme for IT from its current difficulties and transforms it for the benefit of patients and doctors alike."

A Department of Health spokesman said the report highlighted nothing new.

He said: "Patients are now directly benefiting from the modernisation of NHS IT - including being able to make their first outpatient appointment through Choose and Book, new digital images and a new electronic prescriptions service."

And he added that the programme was already being delivered locally.

"For example, detailed care records will continue to be held locally in an electronic form, enabling hospitals and GPs to easily access information in order to the deliver the best service for patients."

The government has made it clear to the companies contracted to deliver the upgrades that it expects further significant progress by the end of November, he said.