HC Deb 19 May 2003 vol 405 cc612-3W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the outcome of the NHS Digital TV pilots. [111023]

Mr. Lammy

Following the completion of a successful series of pilot projects exploring possible health applications of digital television, the Department of Health is beginning a programme of work to develop a version of NHS Direct for digital television, and to make it available nationwide.

Working with commercial partners from the media and broadcasting industries, the Department and the National Health Service will develop a service which will enable people to have easy and fast access at home to trusted information and advice on health, healthcare and the NHS. Such a service will complement the already very successful NHS Direct telephone help-line and the NHS Direct online website.

The independent evaluation report on the pilot projects can be found on the web at: http://www.soi.city.ac.uk/organisation/is.research.dhrq/reports/ ditv-fmal-full.pdf

Information on the procurement process currently under way to select a commercial partner to develop and run the digital television information service, including the tender notice information pack for potential suppliers, is on the Department's website at:www.doh.gov.uk/purchasing/digitaltv.htm