Scrap NHS CfH and the NPfIT Care Records Service say Lib-Dems
The Liberal Democrats have proposed cuts to the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), the Care Records Service in particular, according to Publicservice.co.uk
“The policy document, published by the party’s shadow health spokesman Norman Lamb, has proposed scrapping the Care Records Service (CRS), reducing the scope of the troubled Choose and Book scheme and shutting down Connecting for Health (CfH) – the organisation overseeing the NPfIT’s implementation. Its proposals in general all point towards removing central control over IT systems.”
Comment:
It’s too easy to believe that, unless Labour is returned at the coming election, NHS Connecting for Health and parts of the NPfIT are doomed. What is left of the NPfIT will probably survive, at least because of the difficulties in unravelling CfH’s pursuits.
Links:
Lib-dems to take the axe to the NPfIT – Publicservice.co.uk
Ipad and the NPfIT – In the eye of the storm
Dell Perot – technology can deliver NHS savings – PublicTechnology.net
Which IT contracts are at risk? – Contractor UK
Microsoft sells its first Amalga Unified Intelligence System 2009 to UK – to Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust “We are now much better positioned to leverage the solutions available through NPfIT,” says Trust Finance Director.
So, rather than continually speculating on the future of CfH and the NPfIT and focusing on its failures, perhaps it would be more productive to efficiently market the future benefits of such a programme to patients and clinicians alike and formulate a plan to ensure the vision isn't lost or in effect dismantled and replaced by a watered down version, driven by those who are looking to pick up minor political points.