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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fears over NHS e-records system | Fears over NHS e-records system |
| (1 day later) | |
| A key plank of the £6.8bn NHS IT upgrade project in England has come under attack from MPs. | A key plank of the £6.8bn NHS IT upgrade project in England has come under attack from MPs. |
| The Health Committee said there was a "worrying lack of progress" and raised concerns about the security of patients' electronic records. | |
| But the MPs also said the system - an online database of 50 million medical records to be accessed across the NHS - had huge potential to improve care. | But the MPs also said the system - an online database of 50 million medical records to be accessed across the NHS - had huge potential to improve care. |
| The government said the project was being implemented carefully. | The government said the project was being implemented carefully. |
| But Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said: "This ambitious project has suffered from a lack of consistent direction. | But Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said: "This ambitious project has suffered from a lack of consistent direction. |
| "Confidence in the system will not be boosted by the government's woeful record at handling large scale IT projects." | "Confidence in the system will not be boosted by the government's woeful record at handling large scale IT projects." |
| Meanwhile the Public Accounts Committee has criticised another aspect of the NHS. | Meanwhile the Public Accounts Committee has criticised another aspect of the NHS. |
| Public and professional confidence in the programme is low and its credibility is at stake Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the BMA | Public and professional confidence in the programme is low and its credibility is at stake Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the BMA |
| It said the NHS was "paying lip service" to a government programme intended to boost quality and safety after high-profile scandals such as the Harold Shipman killings. | It said the NHS was "paying lip service" to a government programme intended to boost quality and safety after high-profile scandals such as the Harold Shipman killings. |
| The MPs criticised PCTs, GPs and NHS contractors for poor communication and compliance with national systems for reporting clinical incidents. | The MPs criticised PCTs, GPs and NHS contractors for poor communication and compliance with national systems for reporting clinical incidents. |
| For example, it found only 4% of GPs routinely reported incidents to the National Patient Safety Agency. | For example, it found only 4% of GPs routinely reported incidents to the National Patient Safety Agency. |
| But the criticism of the NHS IT project - the biggest civilian programme of its kind in the world - is just the latest in a long line of negative reports. | But the criticism of the NHS IT project - the biggest civilian programme of its kind in the world - is just the latest in a long line of negative reports. |
| The National Audit Office recently warned about delays and value for money. | The National Audit Office recently warned about delays and value for money. |
| The e-records system is part of a programme, run by a government agency called NHS Connecting for Health, aimed at linking more than 30,000 GPs to nearly 300 hospitals by 2014. | The e-records system is part of a programme, run by a government agency called NHS Connecting for Health, aimed at linking more than 30,000 GPs to nearly 300 hospitals by 2014. |
| 'Lack of clarity' | 'Lack of clarity' |
| The new systems include an online booking system, e-prescriptions and fast computer network links between NHS organisations as well as the centralised e-records system. | The new systems include an online booking system, e-prescriptions and fast computer network links between NHS organisations as well as the centralised e-records system. |
| The e-records system consists of two parts - the summary care record (SCR) and the local detailed care record (DCR). | The e-records system consists of two parts - the summary care record (SCR) and the local detailed care record (DCR). |
| The SCR will contain basic information - such as current medication, allergies and long-term conditions - and will be shared by health professionals across England unless patients object. | The SCR will contain basic information - such as current medication, allergies and long-term conditions - and will be shared by health professionals across England unless patients object. |
| Any details they want held back will remain on their full patient record - the DCR - in their local area. | Any details they want held back will remain on their full patient record - the DCR - in their local area. |
| The cross-party group of MPs said they found "it difficult to clarify exactly what information will be contained in the SCR and what the primary uses of the record will be". | The cross-party group of MPs said they found "it difficult to clarify exactly what information will be contained in the SCR and what the primary uses of the record will be". |
| We still have some way to go before patients and the profession can see tangible benefits of the new system Kevin Barron, of the Health Committee | We still have some way to go before patients and the profession can see tangible benefits of the new system Kevin Barron, of the Health Committee |
| They also said maintaining its security - with different members of staff having different access authority - presented a "significant challenge" despite the controls and audit systems put in place. | They also said maintaining its security - with different members of staff having different access authority - presented a "significant challenge" despite the controls and audit systems put in place. |
| They said the project had been poorly communicated to patients and that delays to the system - some parts of it are two years behind schedule - meant progress had been slow. | They said the project had been poorly communicated to patients and that delays to the system - some parts of it are two years behind schedule - meant progress had been slow. |
| The MPs said Connecting for Health and the government had to make more effort to get doctors and local NHS staff on board. | The MPs said Connecting for Health and the government had to make more effort to get doctors and local NHS staff on board. |
| Committee chairman Kevin Barron, a Labour MP, said: "We still have some way to go before patients and the profession can see tangible benefits of the new system." | Committee chairman Kevin Barron, a Labour MP, said: "We still have some way to go before patients and the profession can see tangible benefits of the new system." |
| And Joyce Robins, of the Patient Concern group, said e-records had been communicated to the public like a "sales pitch". | And Joyce Robins, of the Patient Concern group, said e-records had been communicated to the public like a "sales pitch". |
| Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the British Medical Association, said: "Public and professional confidence in the programme is low and its credibility is at stake." | Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the British Medical Association, said: "Public and professional confidence in the programme is low and its credibility is at stake." |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Health, which was responding for NHS Connecting for Health, said e-records were about improving care and that it would consider the recommendations of the committee. | A spokeswoman for the Department of Health, which was responding for NHS Connecting for Health, said e-records were about improving care and that it would consider the recommendations of the committee. |
| "NHS Connecting for Health is continuing with the careful and considered introduction of the summary care record in a small number of early adopter PCTs." | "NHS Connecting for Health is continuing with the careful and considered introduction of the summary care record in a small number of early adopter PCTs." |