NHS tells IT to change

Director general issues warning to suppliers

The new director general of NHS IT has warned that high-tech suppliers must change if they are to play a part in the £2.3bn revamp of the health service's IT infrastructure.

Richard Granger also questioned the ability of IT suppliers to deliver projects effectively.

Many in the channel had expected NHS buyers to name a few large preferred suppliers, but it seems more firms will get a taste of the business. It is expected that consortia of IT suppliers will be formed to deliver technology on a regional basis.

Granger is reported as saying that even the biggest IT firms do not have the project management skills to deliver IT programmes on the scale the NHS requires, while smaller companies lack the capacity and financial strength.

Steve Reynolds, managing director of services at reseller Civica, said innovative uses of IT would be more likely to come from smaller resellers.

"Medium and small niche players have their ears to the ground and can cut to the chase if they see a piece of the jigsaw missing," he said.