§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what difficulties are occurring in introducing computers into the hospital service; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe introduction of computers into the hospital service is proceeding steadily. Regional boards have used computers in accounting and statistics for some years. My Department has financed the provision of numerous small computers for such hospital functions as laboratory services. One large computer has been installed in a London teaching hospital, and the design of systems for several others is well under way. The main problem will be to assess the effectiveness of computers in hospital functions and hence the justification for 225W their use on a wide scale. In this I hope to be aided by the Advisory Committee on Medical Computing that I appointed during 1969.