§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the cost to private sector IT suppliers of developing proposals for core ICT demonstrator projects initially supported by his Department, but for which funding was not found; [67976]
(2) what representations he has received from private sector IT suppliers concerning the provision of funding for core ICT demonstrator projects initially supported by his Department. [67977]
§ Ms BlearsA programme of small-scale pilot projects—electronic record demonstrator and implementation programme (ERDIP) was funded by the Department. These are currently being evaluated to assess progress and lessons learned prior to a decision being taken about further work.
In addition, joint work between the Department and a number of private sector consortia was undertaken to explore potential large-scale development projects in information technology (IT). Resources were made available by both the Department and the private sector for this but the considerable monies required for the execution of the projects could not be found.
1275WAll future IT developments in the NHS are now subsumed into the National Programme described in "Delivering 21st Century, IT Support for the NHS—National Strategic Programme"—copies are available in the Library and at: www.doh.gsi.gov.uk/ipu/whatnew/deliveringit
The Department will continue to work in partnership with the private sector to deliver IT for the NHS.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the status is of existing NHS ICT procurements at PCT level; and if he will make a statement; [67987]
(2) if he will publish the guidance which he has issued to PCTs to halt existing NHS ICT procurements; [68003]
(3) whether he intends to issue further guidance concerning existing NHS ICT procurements at PCT level. [67986]
§ Ms BlearsThe new National Health Service information technology programme was outlined in the document "Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS: National Strategic Programme", published by the Department in June 2002. The key change of direction is to take greater central control over the specification, procurement, resource management, performance management and implementation of the information and IT strategy.
Existing local procurements, and the development by local primary care organisations of system specifications and functional requirements, are valuable in the development of a new national approach. Guidance published by the Department in support of the June 2002 document states:
Procurements are underway in many places to deliver electronic patient records and other systems and these procurements need to proceed. Certainly by 2008, as indicated in Delivering the NHS Plan, we expect to see all key applications and functionality of electronic patient records in all PCTs and Trusts.On 29 April 2002 the NHS primary care information modernisation programme published a guidance document advising local organisations that have not yet begun procurements to await further guidance arising from the new approach to system certification and accreditation. There was no advice to halt existing procurements; instead the programme advised:
Primary care organisations that have already begun the procurement of new primary and community information systems should contact the Primary Care Information Modernisation team. This will enable the team to have a clear understanding of all local activity and the impact that this will have on current and future national initiatives. The team will ensure that the primary care organisation is made aware of any other relevant activity, including contact details, and will provide more detailed guidance and support if required.As the new procurement strategy is developed, the Department will issue further advice as to how migration to the new arrangements will be made. This will cover all NHS IT procurements, including those relating to primary care organisations, and will take into account developments arising from existing local procurements.