The Department of Health is making no commitment to
replacing Richard Granger, director general of NHS IT and chief
executive of NHS Connecting for Health, which runs part of the
£12.4bn National Programme for IT [NPfIT].
The Department has confirmed it is conducting an interview
review of NHS IT, but the review will not include looking at NHS
Connecting for Health or the NPfIT. It will instead look at how the
NHS "uses informatics to improve patient care".
Richard Granger will remain in post until the end of this year.
Richard Granger announced in June 2007 that he was
resigning.
In a carefully-worded response to Computer Weekly's question on
whether
Granger will be replaced, a Department of Health official said,
"Richard Granger has done a great job in leading the National
Programme for IT, which has delivered new and innovative systems
that have helped NHS staff to transform the services they provide
for patients.
"Richard is not due to leave the Department of Health until the
end of the year. Since Richard announced his resignation, David
Nicholson [chief executive of the NHS] has set up a review of how
the NHS uses informatics to improve patient care. This is not a
review of Connecting for Health or the National Programme for IT,
but the contribution of both will be included within this wider
work, as recommended by
Ara
Darzi [Health Minister] in his NHS Next Stage Review.
"In the light of these developments, David [Nicholson] now
thinks the time is right to look closely at what skills and
management arrangements we need to take Connecting for Health
forward. We expect to be able to outline this before the end of the
year.
"In the meantime, Richard Granger and his team continue to do an
excellent job in leading the Programme."
Tony Collins
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