NI launches £27m ICT plan to join up health and social services

18 Sep 03
Every Northern Ireland citizen is to be given a health and care number, to enable all health practitioners in the province to access their personal health records.

19 September 2003

Every Northern Ireland citizen is to be given a health and care number, to enable all health practitioners in the province to access their personal health records.

The move is part of an investment programme announced by Angela Smith, the acting health, social services and public safety minister during the suspension of devolution.

A £27m implementation contract has been awarded to Steria, which is to begin rolling out the system early next year. From January Steria will provide every GP practice in Northern Ireland with an ICT platform for secure e-mail and Internet connections.

A Health and Care Number Project Implementation Board has been created to oversee the programme.

It will be chaired by Dr Ian Carson, the deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Smith said: 'This is the most significant information communication technology investment for health and care to date in Northern Ireland.

'This initiative will enable the development of a secure and reliable means of electronic communication between GP practices, hospitals and other health and social care organisations. It will also facilitate improved sharing of information across the services.'

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