Dr Brian Fisher, vice chair, new NHS Alliance says: “Small companies have found dealing and trading with the NHS daunting. The suspicion of the health sector to private companies is understandable, but in the IT sector, there is almost no other option for the NHS, as the sad demise of the National Programme for IT shows. Once the suspicion is overcome, then the bureaucracy is overwhelming. I can testify to this having battled through it for the last 2 years.
So, this announcement is welcome. Patient-facing IT has already and will continue to have a huge part to play in our health. It can help citizens and patients take more control over their health and healthcare. It can reduce the demand on care and it can make healthcare safer and more efficient. Processes that speed up these developments are likely to be helpful.
However, IT solutions are notoriously difficult and capricious beasts, as are the punters who use them, clinicians and patients alike. IT solutions need to be evidence-based, they need to be safe, robust and flexible. And to ensure that, we need a modicum of bureaucracy – clinical safety checks, for instance. It is not clear to what extent the process outlined by Simon Stevens will adhere to those principles.”
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact Sophie Lap at sophie.lap@salixandco.com or on 07725 555 030
Health Creation Alliance is a movement of people and organisations who are committed to building a sustainable, community-based health service. They are an entirely solutions focused organisation, unique in its approach bringing together more than 10,000 passionate individuals and organisations across primary care who believe innovation, connections and integration are key to the sustainability of a health service that remains free to all at the point of need. Health Creation Alliance promote greater collaboration between organisations within the NHS and between the NHS, communities, local authorities, innovative enterprises and other local enablers of prevention and health creation.
