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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the introduction of the National Programme for IT computer system into the NHS; [202951] (2) what the estimated cost is of introducing the National Programme for IT into the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [202952] (3) what choice users of the National Programme for IT in the NHS will have of software suppliers; and if he will make a statement; [202953] (4) what use will be made of existing computer systems when the National Programme for IT system is introduced into the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [202954] Mr. Hutton: The national programme for information technology (NPfIT) will over the next nine years, revolutionise the way health information is accessed and shared in the national health service. The NPfIT focuses on the developments that will make a significant difference to improving the patient experience and the delivery of treatment, care and services. It will connect more than 30,000 general practitioners and 270 acute, community and mental health NHS trusts in a single, secure national system, providing doctors and nurses with the right information in the right place at the right time, and allow patients much greater choice in how and where they receive their care. NPfTT is a key component of delivering the vision of a truly modern and patient-centred NHS. NPfIT has four key deliverables: electronic appointment booking, an electronic care records service, electronic transfer of prescriptions and an underpinning IT infrastructure with sufficient connectivity and broadband capacity to support the critical national applications and local systems. Under the NPfIT, an incremental approach is being adopted to building up any new applications or systems. This approach is intended to ensure that implementation is achievable and minimises disruption to the day-to-day business of the NHS. As a consequence the NPfTPs strategy underlines the importance of making best use of the existing asset base. NHS users, including general practitioners, will not be expected to change clinical systems while their current systems are compliant with the NHS care record service and continue to serve them well. We have repeatedly made it clear, in particular when speaking with general practitioners, and in written guidance, that practices may continue to use existing systems subject to their remaining compliant, and being able to deliver the required functionality, until the national programme's local service provider (LSP) is able to implement a viable alternative system. LSPs are required to provide a choice of GP system as part of their service offering. The NPfIT was planned and is being delivered, within expenditure assumptions set in line with the recommendations of the 2002 Wanless Report `Securing our Future Health'. Wanless anticipated an increase in the level of spending on NHS information and communications technology, rising to around 4 per cent. of the total NHS budget on NHS IT in general by 2008. The Government is committed to seeing this target, which extends beyond just the NPfTT national clinical systems, achieved. The costs of the procurement contracts let for the programme's four core components amount to £6.2 billion over 10 years. This figure relate to contractual commitments and covers ongoing funding of core deliverables and the connection of existing systems to national applications from central budgets. It does not include costs of training NHS staff or local change management costs, which will be borne by individual NHS organisations. Future funding to the NHS, determined by the next and future expenditure settlements, is expected to support trusts in meeting and sustaining the 4 per cent. target.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c976-7W; 202951;202952;202953;202954

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Software Costs Computers ICT NHS NHS National Programme for Information Technology

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk