Below is an extract from evidence submitted by the British Medical Assocation to the House of Commons' Health Select Committee on its inquiry into aspects of the NHS's National Programme for IT.
The BMA's paper, which is dated March 2007, is entitled: "Inquiry into the electronic patient record and its use - response from the British Medical Association."
"Many of the problems encountered by the programme have been caused by stakeholders, clinicians and patients not being consulted on developments. Following the National Audit Office report, this has started to be addressed but there is still a sense, at times, of proposals being signed off without adequate consultation and an element of secrecy around developments. There needs to be greater transparency and openness with both clinicians and patients about developments and engagement, at every stage, of healthcare professionals who will use the systems."
