Public spending watchdog the National Audit Office is
due to publish this week the delayed findings of a two-year inquiry
into the NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT). Auditors will also
brief some MPs separately on the more contentious areas of the
report.
Although the report was available in draft form at the end of
2005, its publication has been delayed as Whitehall officials and
auditors sought to agree its factual content.
In the past Whitehall has responded to audit office reports by
drawing attention to the positive findings, and dismissing
criticism as out of date or being addressed.
Richard Granger, director general of NHS IT, and other witnesses
are due to answer questions on the report at a hearing on 26 June
of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. The one-off
hearing is unlikely to end parliamentary
scrutiny of the programme.
After a call by 23 experts in computer-related sciences for an
independent technical audit of the NPfIT, the Commons Health
Committee is expected to hold a series of hearings into the
programme this autumn.
Some of its members believe the need for the hearings is all the
more important since health minister Caroline Flint last month
rejected the call for an independent review of the programme.
Meanwhile, MPs of the three main parties say they will renew
this autumn an early day motion, which notes the concerns of the 23
academics and calls for an independent review of the NPfIT.
Labour MP David Taylor, an IT manager for more than 18 years and
a sponsor of the current early day motion, said the projected costs
of the programme appeared to be “running amok”.
Taylor said he had been unable to ascertain whether its leaders
were working to any key performance indicators. He was also
critical of the lack of concrete objective information on the
programme.
Key NHS supplier awaits an uncertain future
The future of iSoft, one of the largest suppliers of key systems
to NHS trusts, is the subject of speculation after its share price
fell to 52p last week, from a high of more than 450p last year.
The company has announced a change to its accounting practices
and is cutting 150 jobs. iSoft is now worth less than it was when
it floated in 2000.
Analysts say several companies are interested in a takeover.
iSoft is the main software contractor in three of the five
“cluster” areas of the NHS National Programme for IT. It is a key
legacy system supplier in all five areas.