NHS Scotland's IT improving
Scotland's ePharmacy programme is still on track with completion scheduled for the end of 2007, according to a report
published this week by Audit Scotland. The report’s aim was to provide an overview
of NHS IT developments in Scotland and it highlighted a cultural shift
from developing IT at a local level to taking a national approach.
Audit Scotland says that for national development to be a success, an
overarching IT strategy is needed. This is because it is not clear where
accountability for IT development lies. However, Audit Scotland says
that since conducting its research, the Scottish Executive Health Department
has produced a new organisational structure for managing IT with a director
of e-health, although it adds that it is too early to say if this structure
will be effective.
On finances, the report says that NHS Scotland does not know exactly
how much it spends on IT. The estimated figure falls short of the Wanless
target of 3–4 per cent of total health spend. But Audit Scotland
says investment is growing and adds that the real challenge is ensuring
value for money in future.
New IT contract Also this week, a £300m
contract to provide IT to the NHS in Scotland was announced. Atos Origin
Alliance — a partnership between
Atos Origin, BT, IBM and Sopra Newell & Budge — will provide NHS IT
systems including ePharmacy from a data centre in Livingston. Health minister
Andy Kerr commented: “The services will … ensure that patient records
are stored in a secure electronic environment.” He added that the data
centre will enable safe and reliable sharing of information across NHS Scotland
and provide the basis for an integrated health service. |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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