Computer scientists call for rethink of NHS IT

A group of UK computer science academics have called for the government to rethink its strategy for reforming the technology infrastructure of the NHS.

In an open letter sent to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health today, 23 academics highlighted their concerns over the changes proposed by the government in the £6.2bn National Programme for IT (NpfIT). They called for a "thorough, independent technical review" of the scheme.

The academics include some of the best known names in computer science in the UK, such as Professor Ross Anderson, an expert in security; Professor Ewart Carson, a healthcare technology expert at the IEE; and Professor Frank Land, who as a developer in the 1950s of the world's first business computer, Leo, is one of the most distinguished names in UK IT.

The letter points to apparent problems that have emerged with the NPfIT including the issue of whether or not the programme will be delivered within the timescales predicted. The letter also points out that "two of [the] largest suppliers have issued warnings about profit in relation to their work and a third has been fined for inadequate performance".

The two suppliers who admitted difficulties were Accenture, who said last week it expected to lose $450m on its part of the contract, and iSoft, who in January said it expected to earn £55m less than expected from its work with NHS Trusts. BT has been fined for failing to meet pre-set targets.

The programme has been beset by other difficulties, and back in November it was reported that its centralised patient booking system - a key component of the strategy - would be delayed.

According to the open letter, the British IT community is united in its misgivings about the all important strategy. The British Computer Society has added its voice to the critics and "has expressed concern that NPfIT may show a shortfall of billions of pounds".

The academics have cast doubt on just about every aspect of NPfIT, arguing that fundamental issues have not been addressed. The letter said: "Does NPfIT have a comprehensive, robust technical architecture? Project plan? Detailed design? Have these documents been reviewed by experts of calibre appropriate to the scope of the NPfIT?"

In particular the academics highlight the large quantities of data involved, questioning whether the government has taken into account the "volumes of data and traffic that a fully functioning NPfIT will have to support across the thousands of healthcare organisations in England".

Colin Barker writes for ZDNet UK