A BOTTOMLESS PIT

“MP’s condemn £12bn upgrade of NHS computer network”

So reveals a headline in today’s Guardian. Not only is the Department of Health struggling to keep it’s clinical records programme within budget, it is already running two years late and is universally condemned by those who will have to operate within its framework. Without an actual completion date, the Commons public accounts committee has issued a “damning assessment” of the national programme.

If I can send an email to a friend in Australia which arrives in his “in” box 30 seconds later, then why, with a budget of £12bn, can the health service not complete the simple task of putting our medical records on line?

Many MP’s have called for a full inquiry into how three major contractors, CSC, Fujitsu and BT, have failed to deliver software etc, on time.

“A full audit of their work would detail the multimillion –pound payouts and cash advances they have received, the contractual milestones they have missed and what benefits they have delivered.”

So not only have these companies failed to honour contractual obligations, they have already been paid! What happened to the ever so simple maxim that if you order goods, pay for them and don’t receive them, then you get your money back! Forget reports, forget reviews, the time for talking has ended: recover all advances and give the contract to somebody who can actually deliver the benefits!

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