Doctors' support for theNHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT)has declined sharply in the past three years, the latest
survey frommedical research company Medixhas
revealed.
The survey of 1,000 NHS doctors, sponsored by Computer Weekly,
raises questions about the project's success and adds weight to
calls for a published independent review of the £12.4bn scheme.
It found that 23% of GPs and 35% of other doctors supported the
aims of the NPfIT, compared with 56% and 75% in 2004. Seventy six
per cent said it was important to have an independent review of the
NPfIT.
The falling support from doctors is a worry, said professor of
software engineering Martyn Thomas, a spokesman for 23 academics
campaigning for a review of the NPfIT.
"This is not good news for the project because without this
support it cannot possibly succeed. It is serious and depressing
that support is falling as the project progresses. You would expect
this to rise as the project goes forward," he said.
The Medix report said, "Five years after it began, doctors still
support the principles of the project, but most are critical of its
costs and believe it is being poorly implemented."
The survey found that less than 50% of doctors believe the NPfIT
is an important NHS priority, compared with 80% in February
2003.
Comments from those surveyed suggest that management mistakes
and spiralling costs have led to disenchantment among doctors.
"Computerisation of the NHS is inevitable, and if it works well
I am in favour of it. But many good ideas have floundered on
computerisation, and huge sums have been wasted by government on
some projects," said one doctor.
Angela Eagle, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, told
parliament last month that the NPfIT was a success. "Without the
programme, the NHS could no longer function, and it is already
providing essential services and significant benefits to tens of
thousands of clinicians and millions of patients. It is therefore a
success story that ought to be acknowledged," she said.
A spokesman for
NHS Connecting for Health, which runs the NPfIT, said it
consults with a wide range of clinicians in the development of
systems and in their use.
"In the light of wider experience and evidence, the results of
the Medix survey do not appear to reflect the general picture on
the ground or chime with other recent comprehensive surveys," he
said.