DH’s info revolution is ‘fantasy’

Analysts and professional bodies have expressed concern about the government’s ability to bring about an information revolution without additional funding or detail on how the change will be led in a period of NHS reform.

Experts contacted by E-Health Insider for their reaction to the government’s consultation on an NHS information strategy, also queried the lack of focus of the IT required to deliver the records that lie at the heart of many of its proposals.

Jonathan Edwards, Gartner’s research vice president for health, told EHI that without funds and a focus on the practical details of delivery many statements in the document were “little more than fantasy.”

He said: “It skirts the awkward problem that before you can give patients access to a credible comprehensive health record, you have to establish such a record.

“This requires hospital electronic patient record systems – a topic barely mentioned – as well as extensive work on security, privacy and interoperability.”

Frances Blunden, senior policy manager for the NHS Confederation, told EHI that although the paper’s aspirations were “spot on” it is very unclear how the cultural change that it calls for will be led.

“Our big concern is about how the transition is going to be managed when you’ve got such big changes in the management structure coming through – taking out strategic health authorities and primary care trusts.

“There’s an assumption that everyone will come to the same approach but realistically that is unlikely to happen.”

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Read more reaction to the information revolution consultation in our analysis: October Revolution.