54 posts tagged over-optimism

The IT head of an NHS health authority has suggested that CSC's contracts under the National Programme for IT [NPfIT] - may be extended, which would extend the programme itself. If it happens, it could signal an intention of Whitehall officials to keep extending contracts to local service providers in the hope the NPfIT can be seen to succeed at some point.

The idea of a summary care record is a good one – it could save lives. But doctors say it should be rolled out only if it’s legal and will work – and there are doubts about both. When read carefully, the report [2MB] published last week on the summary care record [SCR] early adopter sites by researchers at University College, London, raises questions about whether the scheme will work.

Comment and analysis A study published this week into the summary care record – a pivotal part of the £12.4bn NHS’s National Programme for IT [NPfIT] – raises questions about the underlying assumptions behind the scheme, and highlights flaws in the organisation which runs it.

Whitehall officials have allowed only two weeks for people to apply for two top IT jobs in government – each offering salaries of at least £200,000. The jobs were advertised on 13 April and the deadlines have passed.

The Department of Health has advertised for an NHS chief information officer. Headhunters have been recruited and interviews will take place in a couple of months. Matthew Swindells, acting NHS CIO, told the HC2008 annual healthcare IT conference at Harrogate: "This is an absolutely crucial position, linking the policy to the strategy, to the informatics.

Comment: Whitehall health officials should read the report of the Auditor-General in Victoria, Australia, on the state's "Healthsmart" project. The delays and problems are similar to those on the NHS's National Programme for IT. For example officials have spent less on the Australian programme than predicted because of delays in the delivery of core systems.

Matthew Swindells, who has been leading a review of NHS informatics including the £12.4bn National Programme for IT[NPfIT], has resigned and is to leave the Department of Health “shortly”. He has played a key role in leading NHS IT since the departure of Richard Granger in January 2008.

As they try to sort out the problems at Heathrow's Terminal Five building, BAA and BA may wish to note that United Air Lines spent more than 10 years trying to make a futuristic computerized luggage-handling system work at Denver airport. Eventually United abandoned the system.

BAA and BA may wish to note that United Air Lines spent more than 10 years trying to make a futuristic computerized luggage-handling system work at Denver airport. Eventually United abandoned the system. A United spokesman was quoted as saying in 2005: “It’s never worked up to its potential.

The NHS and Fujitsu are expected to sign a new memorandum of understanding as they continue to renegotiate important parts of a £896m contract signed under the NHS's National Programme for IT, NPfIT, in January 2004.