§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to require NHS IT managers to compare external supplier costs to costs of goods and services procured under framework contracts. [106795]
§ Mr. HuttonThe national health service information technology framework contract, set up in conjunction with the Office of Government Commerce contract (g-cat), commissions price surveys from an independent commercial market price database. The data include prices from all sources such as corporate resellers, electrical and information technology stores, retailers, independent retail and on-line suppliers.
In addition, within the framework agreements there is the facility for information technology managers to run 'mini competitions' among the companies on the agreement. The framework agreements are consistently monitored, and individual information technology managers can compare the prices with any other alternatives available, to confirm value for money.
§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring his Department is undertaking of clinician(a) satisfaction with and (b) use of new NHS IT systems; and if he will make a statement. [106796]
§ Mr. HuttonClinician satisfaction and use of specific implementations of new national health service information technology systems is a matter for local management and the relevant suppliers.