NHS: iSoft

House of Lords written question – answered at on 16 February 2006.

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Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe Shadow Minister, Health

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the delay in rolling out computer software systems in the National Health Service, whether they have set a revised deadline for iSoft to perform under its contract; and, if so, what this deadline is; and

What aspects of iSoft's past record in delivering software solutions to the National Health Service led to its being chosen as preferred suppliers for the Spine and Choose and Book systems.

Photo of Lord Warner Lord Warner Minister of State (NHS Delivery), Department of Health, Minister of State (Department of Health) (NHS Delivery)

iSoft is not one of the preferred supplier contractors for either the data spine, or the Choose and Book system, under the national programme for information technology in the national health service (NPfIT). Those contracts were awarded to British Telecom and Atos Origin respectively. iSoft is, however, a key subcontractor for three of the programme's five local service providers (LSPs), and has a track record of successful delivery of information technology systems to the National Health Service over a considerable number of years. Choice of subcontractors was and remains a matter for the LSPs concerned. NPfIT is delivering to the NHS a service for clinicians rather than a software package.

In the Eastern, North East, and North West and West Midlands cluster areas—where iSoft solutions are being deployed—some 900 sites have had iSoft solutions installed, and these are being used by more than 25,000 users. Some LSP local system deployment activity is being rescheduled as a result of LSPs and their subcontractors, including iSoft, taking longer than originally anticipated to deliver software solutions. However, there is no single new deadline. NPfIT is a hugely complex 10-year programme which will see many thousands of further deployments and associated deadlines. Because contracts under the programme are structured so that financing and completion risk rests with the LSPs and their subcontractors, those who deliver get paid; the corollary also applies.

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