On Sun 23 Aug, Adrian Midgley wrote:
> In HSC 1998/139 the phrase
>
> "- avoid major new IT investment in advance of further guidance
> which will follow publication of the IM & T strategy for the NHS"
> appears as one of the instructions to HAs.
>
> The question is of course what constitutes major, and new.
>
> N&E Devon HA readong of it appears to be that any spending at all is
> ruled out, no PCs added to existing networks, no upgrades of
> operating systems, no installation of ISDN. Nothing.
>
> As usual, I think they are wrong, but has anyone had any sensible
> indication of what the authors meant by major and new?
On Sun 23 Aug, Dr Mark Trowell responded:
> Yet the bullet point before says: "work with PCGs to develop long
> term plans for IT investment, to upgrade systems to meet year 2000
> compliance, and to link all practices to _NHSnet_ (their italics,
> not mine).
Please read Section 5 of the supporting guidance to HSC 1998/139
which is where the detailed guidance on IM&T appears, in particular
para 137:
"It is not proposed that there will be a Primary Care Group computer
system in the same way that there was a standalone GP Fundholding
system. Neither is it expected that fully functional systems
supporting all Primary Care Group business functions will be available
on 1 April 1999. Primary Care Groups and Health Authorities should
view the development of systems as part of an evolutionary process
based within a wider context of the need to update Primary Care
Computing. No major IT investment should be made for specific Primary
Care Group systems before the functions, information and data
processing needs have been agreed."
There is also guidance on upgrading primary care clinical systems,
on data quality and data sources, deriving information from PHCT
clinical systems, confidentiality, the use of HA systems to support
commissioning activity, and on connecting to NHSnet.
The autumn guidance will contain further detailed advice in the light
(hopefully) of the new IM&T strategy, including some indication of
costings. There will be new money but how much, and exactly what it
may be spent on is the subject of ongoing discussions between the
Department and HM Treasury.
Trims.
--
Dr Ian Trimble http://www.sherwood.demon.co.uk/
Sherwood Health Centre
Elmswood Gardens Tel: +44 115 962 4516
Nottingham NG5 4AD Fax: +44 115 985 7899
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