Written question asked by Anne Campbell (Labour) on Friday, 15 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 October 2004. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 October 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given to general practitioners who do not wish to change clinical system under the National Programme for IT and who wish to carry on using the EMIS system.

Answer: Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to general practitioners who do not wish to change clinical system under the National Programme for IT and who wish to carry on using the EMIS system. [192767] Mr. Hutton: The Department's policy with regard to local choice about information technology (IT) provision remains as stated in the guidance agreed jointly with the British Medical Association. Each general practitioner practice should have a choice of more than one system so long as these have been accredited against national standards and can deliver the required functionality. Guidance published on the national programme for IT (NPfIT) website makes it clear that existing suppliers play an important role in current and future national health service IT service provision. Local service providers have also been informed of the NPfIT position that GPs must not be forced to change system, and individual practices will continue to be supported where they have expressed a wish not to begin migrating in the short term to the preferred local system.

Secondary information