�6.1bn spent so far on National Programme for IT

Tom Young, Computing, Friday 8 January 2010 at 16:20:00

Figures is �2bn less than original forecasts due to slow progress on scheme

The government will have spent �6.1bn on the NHS National Programme for IT
(NPfIT) by April, some �2bn less than it had forecast.

The figure is for central spending by Connecting for Health only ? it doesn't
include any of the �3.6bn which was expected to be spent by NHS trusts on the
NPfIT by now. However it does include recent contracts awarded to BT in the
South.

The figures were released by NPfIT minister Mike O'Brien in response to a
parliamentary question by shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien.

The �2bn spending shortfall is accounted for by a four year delay to the care
records service ? a key part of the programme. Because suppliers were placed on
tight "payment on delivery" contracts less money has been spent than forecast.

In 2008/09, for example, NHS Connecting for Health spent almost half a
billion less than it had planned to as the care records service came to a halt
amidst concern around a handful of disastrous go-lives.

There are two types of software being used in the care records system ?
iSoft's Lorenzon and Cerner's Millenium.

In a second response Mike O'Brien said that seven trusts were using the
Lorenzo system so far, and 13 trusts were using the Millenium software, five of
which are in London and eight in the Southern region.

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2255850/1bn-spent-far-national