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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NHS 24 shelves new £117m call-handling system | NHS 24 shelves new £117m call-handling system |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The medical helpline NHS 24 has shelved a new £117m phone system over fears for patient safety. | The medical helpline NHS 24 has shelved a new £117m phone system over fears for patient safety. |
| Delays in answering calls have resulted in the helpline resorting to using its previous system after just 10 days. | Delays in answering calls have resulted in the helpline resorting to using its previous system after just 10 days. |
| Once a solution to the problems is found, the programme will be re-launched - expected to be early 2016. | Once a solution to the problems is found, the programme will be re-launched - expected to be early 2016. |
| The call-handling and IT system - called the Future Programme - "has proved extremely challenging", according to an NHS statement. | The call-handling and IT system - called the Future Programme - "has proved extremely challenging", according to an NHS statement. |
| This is despite "a huge amount of planning, system testing and staff training". | This is despite "a huge amount of planning, system testing and staff training". |
| Unsafe for patients | Unsafe for patients |
| NHS 24 chief executive Ian Crichton warned that keeping the Future Programme in service at this level of operation would be unsafe for patients. | NHS 24 chief executive Ian Crichton warned that keeping the Future Programme in service at this level of operation would be unsafe for patients. |
| He said he expected the volume of calls the helpline receives over the weekend to "significantly increase" as winter approaches, which indicates that the service "would fall below acceptable tolerances". | He said he expected the volume of calls the helpline receives over the weekend to "significantly increase" as winter approaches, which indicates that the service "would fall below acceptable tolerances". |
| "This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, given the significant investment to date, but one that will ensure we can continue to deliver vital and safe out-of-hours support to patients when they need it most during the coming winter", he said. | "This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, given the significant investment to date, but one that will ensure we can continue to deliver vital and safe out-of-hours support to patients when they need it most during the coming winter", he said. |
| The NHS will continue to develop the new system offline before rolling it out again early in the new year. | The NHS will continue to develop the new system offline before rolling it out again early in the new year. |
| 'Mismanaged shambles' | 'Mismanaged shambles' |
| Scottish Labour's public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie accused the Scottish government of having a "short-term, sticking plaster approach to the NHS". | Scottish Labour's public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie accused the Scottish government of having a "short-term, sticking plaster approach to the NHS". |
| Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw called the project "a mismanaged shambles" which had cost the taxpayer a fortune. | Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw called the project "a mismanaged shambles" which had cost the taxpayer a fortune. |
| Health Secretary Shona Robison said that while NHS 24 remained fully operational, she was disappointed that it had to revert to the previous system. | |
| However, she said patient safety was the priority and "it is right that NHS 24 take the time necessary to understand and fix any outstanding problems completely". | |
| Theresa Fyffe, Royal College of Nursing Scotland director, said it was "regrettable" but "the right decision" for patients and staff. | |
| The announcement follows an incident in October, when the same system crashed and staff had to resort to pen and paper. | The announcement follows an incident in October, when the same system crashed and staff had to resort to pen and paper. |
| An Audit Scotland report had also previously raised concerns over the cost and delivery of the system. | An Audit Scotland report had also previously raised concerns over the cost and delivery of the system. |
| Initially due to be ready for October 2013, it was delayed for two years and cost about £117m - almost £40m above the expected cost. | Initially due to be ready for October 2013, it was delayed for two years and cost about £117m - almost £40m above the expected cost. |