Health Select Committee enquiry into EPR - evidence
The Health Select Committee has published the written evidence received by it regarding the Summary Care Record service. This can also be read online.
There is too much to precis but it boils down to an overambitious and oversold plan, insufficient definition of the specs, inadequate consultation during planning, a botched tendering process, poor engagement with users and the public & finally a lack of understanding of working practices & software design among those charged with implementing the solution. So pretty much everything. Too much of a reliance on a group think mentality & freezing out dissenting voices did not help either.
It appears that the Public Accounts Committee isn’t about to let go either.
Speaking in the Commons on 19 April, Edward Leigh, chair of the PAC, said: The Government should not use the excuse of saying that although a particular report is fine and that they agree with it entirely, it is based on a National Audit Office report that was published nine months or a year ago and therefore all the excellent recommendations are already being implemented—when, on certain occasions, the Government, or rather accounting officers and their civil servants, have delayed the whole process. The process relies on the National Audit Office reports being agreed between the National Audit Office and the Department and there is often a long period of negotiation.
That was particularly apparent in the recent important report on the NHS computer system—a system that is worth about £12 billion. I notice that the Government’s response this week says, “Well, excellent report by the PAC, but we’re doing all this—it’s an out-of-date report.” I am going to call the Government’s bluff. I have talked to the Comptroller and Auditor General about the matter and, following my encouragement, we are to have another NAO report on the NHS computer in the next year so that we can have an update to check whether all the excellent recommendations of the NAO and the PAC on this £12 billion computer system—that amount is equivalent to the entire cost of the Olympic games—are being carried out.
The General Medical Council, Information Commissioner and the Department of Health have agreed a joint statement to ensure that all those who have access to patient information in the course of their work are clear about what is expected of them.
A bit weak & lacking in specifics with very little focus on informing patients but it is a start.