NPfIT criticized anew
The National Programme for IT (NPfIT) in the National Health Service (NHS) has undergone significant changes since its launch in 2002. One of the most notable developments is the reduction in the number of suppliers for NPfIT, with only two companies - BT and CSC - currently involved.
Despite this reduction, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found that the Department of Health has significantly reduced the scope of the NPfIT program without a proportionate reduction in costs. This has raised concerns about the program's potential value for money.
The NAO's investigation also revealed that the goal of creating a single electronic record for every patient of the NHS will not be achieved. Furthermore, because fewer NHS trusts plan to use the new systems, there will be extra costs to make the care records systems interoperable.
The Department of Health, in its defence, has stated that more than half of the Trusts in England have received systems under the program. However, the NAO report suggests that neither the reduction in suppliers nor the decrease in committed NHS trusts has increased the chances of NPfIT delivering value for money.
The reduction in the number of suppliers and committed NHS trusts can be traced back to a 2009 report from the Centre for Policy, a right-wing think tank, which suggested that private companies could be entrusted with patient care records. This report is believed to have influenced the current Conservative party leadership.
In a bid to increase transparency and accountability, former UK Health Minister Lord James Bethell spoke at a Google conference about the online publication of health data. He argued that this would enable monitoring of healthcare providers' performance in the UK and allow scientists to analyze the spread of diseases.
More recently, UK Chancellor George Osborne suggested that publishing health care data online would help citizens scrutinize the performance of healthcare providers and allow scientists to analyze the spread of diseases and other health issues.
Despite these efforts, the future of the NPfIT program remains uncertain. The NAO has found that measures taken to reduce the scope of the program have limited its potential value more than they have reduced its costs. As such, it is crucial for the Department of Health to carefully consider its approach to the program moving forward.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
