By Andy McCue, 30 June 2006 11:10
NEWS
Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended the £6.2bn NHS IT programme, saying it will help deliver a health service "fit for the 21st century".
Blair admitted to MPs in the House of Commons this week that he was not personally aware of the problems with NHS IT supplier iSoft, whose shares have crashed as a result of delays implementing some of the new systems, but said the programme is on track to "deliver real benefits".
The PM also confirmed that the total expenditure on the NHS IT contracts as of 31 March 2006 is £654m.Blair also backed the National Audit Office (NAO) report into NHS IT, which has come under fire from some MPs for being too "gushing" amid allegations at a Public Accounts Committee meeting this week that the NAO had been bullied into toning down its criticism by the Department of Health.
He told MPs: "In the end, one of the huge benefits of having a national health service is that we can have electronic patient records that are transferable right round the system. If that happens, it means not just an end to vast amounts of paperwork in the NHS, but that things such as patient choice, for example, can become a reality."
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1. anonymous
You know, by telling them what they want to hear I reckon you could sell Tony and his technology ignorant government a tachyon generator! They never seem to have any real grasp of the technologies they purchase or the complexities of implementing them. They just seem to have some vague notion of what it's all about as if they've read it in a brochure or catalogue.
Tony (whilst reading the Argos catalogue) : "Ooooh! A new IT system for NHS/passport office/child support agency/wotever. Just what we need!"
Dilbert : "No, it'll cost too much, come in over budget, come in over time and cost the country a fortune to maintain whilst providing questionable benefits!"
Tony : "No, it says right here it's easy to install, easy to use, just plug and play."
Dilbert : "I'd strongly adivise against ...."
Tony : "No no, if Argos sells it it must be good. Go get me a cup of tea and I'll give them a ring."
2. boney clair
Blair is unaware fullstop