NHS needs to show pay-back
Benefits of IT must be demonstrated
The NHS National Project for IT must show the benefits of IT to the service if it is to continue to justify its cost to the tax payer, according to research.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said although IT is critical to improving patient experiences, the NHS must demonstrate this through appropriate evaluation.
Jamie Bend, research fellow at the IPPR, said: "There are great risks if the government cannot show IT is having a positive impact for the public and professionals using it, and it could lose political support.
"It is disappointing that it cannot show the benefits now, but it can do this only when systems are in place throughout the NHS."
Gordon Davies, commercial director at VAR Compusys, said suppliers are hindered by a lack of organisation within the NHS. "You can be dealing with lots of different people, and few of them understand the benefits they can gain through good project management and IT," he said.