HC Deb 19 October 1988 vol 138 cc914-5W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the resource management pilot project at Arrowe Park hospital;

(2) if he will make a statement on the future of the National Health Service resource management initiative.

Mrs. Currie

The resource management initiative's overriding aim is to ensure that health authorities' resources are used efficiently and effectively to the maximum benefit of patients. The main components are:

  1. (a) to develop new management systems that provide a central role for doctors, nurses and other professional staff in the management process;
  2. (b) to develop new computerised hospital management information systems; and
  3. (c) to equip staff for their new roles and responsibilities.

A key feature of resource management is the active co-operation of the medical profession; the resource management initiative is jointly sponsored by the joint consultants' committee and the NHS management board, and its ultimate success will depend on the continuing commitment of clinicians.

The initiative is being piloted at six acute sites and progress at five of the six sites is both good and on schedule. More specifically, developments at two sites (the Freeman hospital, Newcastle, and the royal infirmary, Huddersfield) have reached a point where all the main new information systems will shortly become operational.

Developments at three of the other four sites (the Pilgrim hospital, Boston, Guy's, and the royal Hampshire county hospital, Winchester) are expected to reach a broadly similar stage next spring.

Developments at Arrowe Park hospital have to date been slower than at the other sites, although some useful work has been undertaken in developing management structures. The project plan for the hospital is currently being revised and discussed with the district and region. The NHS management board is keen that Arrowe Park remains part of the initiative.

Progress at the sites will be evaluated, with an interim report expected in October 1988. A fuller evaluation is scheduled for completion in October 1989, and will be based on 12 months operational experience at two sites and six months operational experience at three other sites. Decisions on extending the initiative to other sites will be taken in the light both of the 1989 evaluation and of the outcome of the current review of the NHS.