Your IT dollar not helping
A hugely expensive NHS computer project in Blighty has actually made life difficult for the cash-strapped health service.
Since the Connecting for Health computer network came online appointments for suspected cancer sufferers, accident and emergency treatment and scheduled operations have all been delayed by problems, and complaints have soared.
Enfield Primary Care Trust was one of the organizations using the Connecting for Health system and problems with it led to 63 patients with Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust having delayed operations. According to Computer Weekly magazine more than 14,000 people complained about their treatment last year, almost three times the 5,500 complaints in 2006.
Staff unfamiliarity with the Connecting for Health system was blamed for the issues. Other trusts have delayed introducing the new system after hearing of such problems.