IT leaders attending this week's Healthcare Computing Conference in
Harrogate have called on the IT industry to help create a new
professional training body to solve the NHS IT skills
shortage.
James RogersBritish Computer Society president Alastair Macdonald told the
conference that the IT industry should help form a body focusing on
the professional needs of healthcare IT. He said, "I want to see
more like-minded organisations pooling their resources."
Macdonald believes that such a body could provide invaluable
specialist training for healthcare professionals working in IT.
"Some people want to see a professional college model used," he
said, "whereas others would welcome an organisation of any type
that would deliver certification."
Earlier this year the Department of Health announced £850m of
new funding for NHS IT, but questions remain over where the skills
will come from to make the strategy successful.
The move was welcomed by NHS executives at a time when the
service is struggling to meet the challenge of the IT skills
shortage. Anthony Nowlan of the NHS Information Authority said, "In
keeping with other industries, skills is one of the biggest
corporate challenges we face."
james.rogers@rbi.co.uk