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The UK Minister for Health has announced an overhaul of the National Health Service's IT systems in a project that could cost up to STG5 billion.
Health Minister Lord Philip Hunt announced the strategy at the launch of "Delivering 21st Century IT support across the NHS," a document which describes the new strategy for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the NHS.
The programme, along with additional funding to be announced in the summer, aims to ensure that the NHS' IT infrastructure is upgraded so that the UK health service can deliver its commitments to electronic record keeping, electronic prescribing and the electronic booking of appointments.
The programme will include the appointment of a new national IT programme director who will be responsible for the implementation of the strategy. Additionally, the scheme will implement national standards for data and IT in the health service. The plan is also set to promote improved partnerships with the IT industry and healthcare IT suppliers, to increase the IT capacity of the NHS.
Other aspects of the NHS' proposal include a new procurement strategy to accelerate the impact of IT across the NHS and better central management, including a ministerial taskforce chaired by Lord Hunt.
The NHS has already been allocated STG83 million to connect all clinical and management staff to its network to enable e-mail, directory services and Web browsing. This money will also be used to ensure the electronic transfer of all biochemistry, haematology and microbiology test results and to support the information and IT requirements of the National Services Frameworks.
The total cost of the project is difficult to estimate, because each NHS trust will makes its own decisions as to how it allocates its budgets. However, the total cost of the project has been estimated at STG5 billion. The budget of the program will be drawn from the NHS budget, which is expected to be 9.5 percent of GDP by 2008.
"I am convinced that with proper planning and direction as well as the increased IT investment, clear national standards for IT systems and a streamlined procurement process, we will be able to move up a gear and significantly accelerate the pace of IT development across the NHS," said Lord Hunt in a statement.
The Irish government plans to finalise its own National Health Information Strategy for Ireland in July. The strategy is likely to include the creation of a new national health information agency focused on providing information to clinicians and health services managers, according to Dermot Smyth, assistant secretary of finance, planning and information at the Department of Health.
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