Doctors lose enthusiasm for NHSs £6.2bn IT programme

10 Feb 05
Directors of the multibillion pound NHS information technology project have vowed to win over sceptical doctors whose declining support could turn the scheme into a white elephant.

11 February 2005

Directors of the multibillion pound NHS information technology project have vowed to win over sceptical doctors whose declining support could turn the scheme into a white elephant.

A survey by medical pollsters Medix found that doctors' support for the National Programme for IT, which will cost an initial £6.2bn, was falling, particularly among GPs.

A year ago, 70% of GPs thought it was an important NHS priority and 56% were enthusiastic about it. In this week's survey, 41% said it was important and 21% were enthusiastic about it.

Support among GPs for one of the most important elements of the initiative — an electronic care records system — is falling. A year ago, 58% said it was very important, but that has now fallen to 20%.

There was even less support for Choose and Book — the IT system to allow patients to choose where and when they are treated at the time they are being referred to a specialist by a GP. This is a major plank of the government's reforms, but 61% of GPs thought it unimportant.

The National Programme said it was already improving support among doctors and criticised the survey's commentary for highlighting only the negative aspects of its findings.

'We know there has been some discontinuity in our clinical engagement. But we have recently adopted a new approach, appointing a number of senior clinicians to lead this engagement work,' a spokesman said.

'The survey was conducted in the period after the appointment of these new clinical leads but well before their work has had the chance to penetrate at grass roots level.'

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