HC Deb 26 October 2001 vol 373 cc423-4W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of GPs' surgeries were intended to be connected to NHSnet by the target date of March 2001; what proportion were connected; what proportion were connected at the latest date for which figures are available; what proportion of GPs now connected use the system in practice; and if he will make a statement. [9404]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: Our Information Management and Technology strategy for the national health service, "Building the Information Core—Implementing the NHS Plan", published in January 2001 gave the target of 95 per cent. of general practitioners practices in England to be connected to NHSnet by end of March 2001.

At that date 93.6 per cent. of practices in England had an NHSnet line installed. At the latest date for which figures are available 97 per cent. of practices in England have an NHSnet line installed.

Nationally, 77 per cent. of practices in England have completed acceptance tests which include demonstrating that local staff are able to use e-mail over NHSnet. Although usage of NHSnet is monitored centrally, the extent to which individual practices use e-mail depends on local work practices and information on usage is not available centrally.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when in the last year key services forming part of NHSnet failed for more than 24 hours consecutively; what the causes of such failures were; and if he will make a statement. [9405]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: There have been no failures of NHSnet services lasting more than 24 hours in the past year.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the back up system for NHSnet performed to expectations during recent losses of service. [9406]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: Yes. On Saturday 1 September, NHSnet services were temporarily affected by a power surge at a data centre that damaged equipment. Backup systems were brought into use immediately and an operational service was restored within minutes. During the following week, configuration problems were identified that caused network congestion and delay to messages. Immediate corrective action was taken.