NHS National Programme for IT in the spotlight

The much-publicised National Health Service Programme for IT, otherwise known as NpfIT, is the Government’s £12.4bn NHS IT transformation programme.

Rarely out of the headlines, the NHS National Programme for IT has been beset with an array of problems, raising passions on all sides.

Issues faced by NPfIT include key elements of the programme being years late; escalating costs; suppliers running into difficulties; and, in some cases, a lack of support by doctors and health professionals.

When it was launched in June 2000, the government recognised the need for a comprehensive update of NHS IT systems.

The NHS National Programme for IT therefore focused on four projects, although others were delivered along the way.

These were an electronic system to book hospital appointments (Choose and Book), a set of reliable, national electronic health records, a new broadband infrastructure, and e-prescriptions.

BT successfully delivered the broadband infrastructure, though critics attacked the cost. Choose and Book is working, but many GPs refuse to use it. E-prescriptions have been delayed, but may prove useful in time.

However, the main bugbear is the national electronic health record: the main purpose of NPfIT. This looks to be years away, with many experts now questioning whether it is needed, as regional records seem adequate in many cases.

One of the features of the National Programme for IT has been the vocal nature of proponents and critics of the scheme, who include politicians, medical experts and academics.

A key figure is the charismatic director general of NHS IT, Richard Granger, who is recognised as having held the whole programme together with a firm grip on the finances.

He left as chief executive of Connecting for Health in June 2007, leaving the future of NPfIT in question.
National Health Service Programme for IT – NpfIT news stories/features

Report exposes stark reality of NHS IT

National Health Service Programme for IT – NpfIT on the rest of web

• Connecting for Health
• The case for the National Programme for IT
• The National Programme for IT
• E-Health Insider
• BT, NPfIT and Mary's story

National Health Service Programme for IT – NpfIT blogs

• Public Sector blog

National Health Service Programme for IT – NpfIT images

• Nick Green's poster on NHS IT plans:NPfIT

National Health Service Programme for IT – NpfIT video

• Video: Public Accounts Committee on NPfIT
• Video: Nobbling The National Audit Office

Catch up on the recent history of the NPfIT with these Computer Weekly stories.

2008:

• NHS IT scheme spends £1.5bn less than expected 14/03/2008
  
  
• Patient database open to access by non-qualified NHS staff 03/03/2008
  
  
• Senior executive Richard Jeavons quits NHS IT programme 01/04/2008
  
  
• Plans to replace legacy NHS systems put on hold 07/04/2008
  
  
• Matthew Swindells quits NHS National Programme for IT 10/04/2008
  
  

2007:

 

• Time for NHS to take stock 26/06/2007
  
  
• Richard Granger's departure may jeopardise NHS IT programme 26/06/2007
  
  
• NHS IT: an open letter to Gordon Brown 25/06/2007
  
  
• GPs criticise Choose and Book system 20/06/2007
  
  
• Connecting for Health briefing claims much of NHS NPfIT complete 06/2007
  
  
• iSoft and CSC strike NHS deal to allow takeover 18/06/2007
  
  
• Chief executive of NHS Connecting for Health resigns 18/06/2007
  
  
• NHS IT project delays putting patients' safety at risk, say senior staff 17/05/2007
  
  
• Report exposes stark reality of NHS IT 24/04/2007
  
  
• MPs slam failures in delivering NHS IT 17/04/2007
  
  
• MPs dissect NHS IT plan's failings 17/04/2007
  
  
• Responsibility worries delay localisation of NPfIT 13/04/2007
  
  
• Atos suspended from NHS contract 13/04/2007
  
  
• Stop roll-out of this records system, urge NHS doctors 10/04/2007
  
  
• Digital imaging to replace x-ray film in London trusts 05/04/2007
  
  
• NHS IT devolution plan goes into action 27/03/2007
  
  
• NHS trusts ask for costs to cover delays to NPfIT 21/03/2007
  
  
• Bolton GPs first adopters of NHS online patient records 16/03/2007
  
  
• New suppliers sought in change to NHS IT 13/03/2007
  
  
• Milton Keynes hospitals go live with electronic care records 28/02/2007
  
  
• Smartcard scheme makes 'a nonsense of IT security' 27/02/2007
  
  
• Supplier sets out risks facing NHS IT plan 13/02/2007
  
  
• Record system boosts care at Sheffield trust improves care with e-records 05/02/2007
  
  
• Academics air 'concerns' over NPfIT 24/01/2007
  
  
• CSC claims swift progress in NHS contract 23/01/2007
  

2006:

• It's about people, not just technology 19/12/2006
  
  
• No warning for hospital on patient system problems 12/12/2006
  

2005:

• Leaked e-mails emphasise divide between business goals and technology in NHS plan 22/11/2005
  
  
• This examination of NHS IT scheme has failed to probe the painful facts 11/07/2006

Comment on these articles: computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk