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NEWS: National audit office to probe NHS IT project
The National Audit Office, the government spending watchdog, will be investigating whether the NHS computer system is value for money.
The government had set aside £2.3 billion centrally over the three years to 2005-06 for the programme. The total value of the contracts awarded to date (which cover a period of seven to ten years) is some £6.2 billion.
The computer system is intended to link up all GP surgeries and hospitals in the country. Patient records will be kept electronically, making it possible for records to move with the patient. The system will also allow for the booking of appointments online and for the elctronic transmission of prescriptions. Doctors voiced their concern that patient confidentiality might be jeopardised if records are available online.
The placing of contracts for the major IT systems making up the national system has been largely finished. The NAO will examine the procurement processes, whether contracts are likely to deliver good value for money and how the department is implementing the programme.
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