Government officials question tech companies responsible for National Programme for IT in Health (NPfIT) regarding the delays in implementation

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is delving into the intricacies of the National IT programme for the National Health Service (NHS) following the publication of a recent report by the National Audit Commission (NAC). The report, published last week, found that reducing the scope of the programme is more likely to increase value rather than cost.

The PAC is questioning several key figures in the industry, including NHS chief executive, Sir David Nicholson, the Department of Health's informatics chief, Christine Connolly, BT Health president Patrick O'Connell, and CSC's UK healthcare president Sheri Thureen. Their testimonies are being held in response to the findings of the NAC report, which has raised concerns about the programme's management and cost overruns.

One of the main points of discussion is Lorenzo, the care records system being delivered by CSC. Christine Connolly, the Department of Health's informatics chief, stated that continuing with Lorenzo would be less expensive than scrapping it, given the current budget overruns.

The questioning is not limited to the NHS leadership. UK ministers are also putting the National IT programme under tough scrutiny, expressing their concerns about the programme's progress and management.

For those interested, the PAC's interviews can be watched online, requiring Microsoft Silverlight. The sessions provide a unique insight into the inner workings of the programme and the decisions being made to address the challenges it faces.

The NHS national IT programme's future remains uncertain, but the PAC's investigations offer a glimmer of hope for transparency and accountability in managing this critical infrastructure. As the discussions continue, it is expected that more information will come to light, shedding further light on the programme's current state and potential future directions.