TPP MIG integration axed

Healthcare Gateway’s agreement with TPP to enable information sharing via its Medical Interoperability Gateway has broken down and a pilot of the integration has been axed.

The companies have different versions of events regarding who is to blame, but agree that they have failed to sign a contract to allow sharing of data held on SystmOne via the MIG.

TPP announced in January that it would integrate with the MIG, meaning that more than 99% of GPs across the UK could share patient data securely.

Healthcare Gateway, jointly owned by Emis and INPS, released a statement yesterday saying it has been unable to agree terms with TPP for a contract, which was due to be signed this week.

Managing director Peter Anderson said this means that a London pilot of the integration, due to start this month, will not go ahead.

Anderson said the proposed terms of engagement for the interoperability project have remained the same since the beginning of the negotiations and that Healthcare Gateway has repeatedly extended signing deadlines.

“In January this year, TPP appeared satisfied enough with the key principles to make a public announcement of the agreement, so we are surprised and disappointed that they have failed to sign a contract at this stage,” he added.

“We are deeply concerned about TPP’s apparent lack of commitment to this vital data-sharing initiative, which will deliver a key foundation stone in realising the Department of Health’s vision of a ‘paperless’ NHS whilst significantly increasing efficiency and improving patient care,”

However, just hours earlier, TPP released a statement saying it was “delighted to announce” its integration with the MIG and that the pilot went live in a region of West London on Monday.

The pilot was trialling the sharing of data from TPP, EMIS, INPS and Adastra clinical systems, between urgent care centres and GP practices.

TPP said Healthcare Gateway’s announcement yesterday was a surprise. A spokesperson told EHI that although a contract has not been signed, it believed discussions were ongoing with the owners of the MIG.

“The proposed terms had been altered by both parties in the course of the project so we were in negotiations, but believed a joint decision would be reached imminently,” a statement says.

“TPP remain fully committed to the MIG project. This is an integration that has been requested by our users and so we want to do everything within our power to deliver it.

“It would be thoroughly disappointing if Healthcare Gateway decide to withdraw from the pilot before we can complete our contract negotiations.

“We cannot begin to express the frustration we would feel if they make this decision, our teams have spent months working on this project and promising NHS staff that this integration is just around the corner.”

Anderson said Healthcare Gateway has successfully negotiated contracts with numerous system suppliers and "remains committed to continuing discussions with TPP if it is willing to come back to the table".