Officials on the national programme for IT in the NHS have
defended the "Choose and Book" system after claims that initial
implementations have run into problems.
The system is designed to allow GPs and their patients to book
hospital appointments online, and be given a choice of times and
locations.
But the national programme has admitted that although the system
went live in July, there have been few appointments booked using
it. Asked whether the number of appointments booked on the system
was less than 20 by the end of September, a spokesman said that the
number booked was "relatively low".
"An integrated Choose and Book service is available. It has been
tested and it works," said the spokesman. "It has not yet been made
widely available to GPs and that is in line with carefully
developed implementation plans under which there will be a gradual
roll-out according to an organisation's readiness to implement.
Feedback from both GPs and patients has been very positive."
But a memo seen by the Sunday Times tells a different story. It was
written by a project manager in Yorkshire, where GPs are among the
first in the UK to use the Choose and Book systems Dated October
2004, it is addressed to the Barnsley Primary Care Trust and
outlines the state of play on the local project
It said clinicians think the system would be impressive if concerns
can be addressed. As yet "no live bookings have taken place"
because clinicians have reservations about the performance,
security and other aspects of the system.
"Implementation at Barnsley is currently on hold until sufficient
reassurances have been made to convince the project team that all
aspects of concern regarding the confidentiality of patient
information have been approved at highest level," the document
said.
Concerns include a worry that a wide range of people with smartcard
access can amend a patient's record and unplanned downtime of the
"data spine" which will hold summaries of electronic patient
records.
A spokesman for the NPfIT said, "It is entirely to be expected that
there will be issues and concerns raised by early adopters and we
are working constructively with them to address the points they
have raised. Indeed, it is a sign of a well-managed programme that
we are implementing in a gradual way so that the lessons learned in
the early adopter sites can be applied elsewhere as the roll-out
progresses."