08 December 2000
Though there were only two paragraphs that refer specifically to Information for Health in the NHS Plan, Jeremy Thorp of the NHS Executive's information policy unit said it was vital to the modernisation programme.
Some commentators believed the lack of references meant the strategy was doomed but Thorp said: 'The work done so far has not been undermined.'
He said significant advances in implementing the strategy had been made – by the end of October, 71% of English GP practices had been connected to NHSnet while NHS Direct was available throughout the country.
'We can be confident about the other targets because of the commitment of ministers and the availability of funding.
'We now need to demonstrate we can achieve the targets because we have got a lot of money and there is an expectation that we will deliver.'
PFdec2000
