NHS: IT delays won't slow us down

The NHS has admitted that some parts of its massive IT modernisation project are running late but insists the slow progress on certain projects will be insignificant to the project as a whole.

NHS Connecting for Health (CfH), which is in charge of the health service's National Programme for IT, insisted the project is "within budget, ahead of schedule in some areas and broadly on track in others".

But it did admit some work is being held up.

Yesterday healthcare software iSoft company said it would earn £55m less than expected this year because of a "significant degree of rescheduling" to the NHS modernisation project.

In response, NHS CfH said in a statement: "Some local service provider system deployment activity is being rescheduled. It is because suppliers and their subcontractors, including iSoft, have taken longer than anticipated to deliver effective software solutions that interface with national applications such as The Spine and Choose and Book."

But it added: "In the context of a 10-year programme, the impact of the rescheduling is not significant."

Click here to read silicon.com's run down of each of the major NHS IT projects under development.

NHS CfH said the N3 secure broadband network "is ahead of schedule". But other projects such as the controversial Choose and Book appointment system is running late and is still not fully rolled out.

The agency also said that IT spending outside of the main change programme is also rising: "IT is an essential part of delivering a more efficient and modernised NHS. To support the implementation of centrally procured systems, local NHS IT spending is rising."