Health chiefs ditch £30m IT system launch

HOSPITAL chiefs have abandoned plans to launch a £30 million computer system next month following complaints that doctors and nurses were struggling to find vital information on it.

The Hospital Information System was supposed to be up and running almost two years ago, when the first phase of the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary opened, in April 2002.

But a series of delays has meant the hospital is still without the system, which is supposed to give staff easy access to patients’ records at their bedsides.

The delay is the latest blow to hit the flagship hospital already dogged by problems over power failures and criticism over its heating system and catering.

Now the Lothian Health Board has called off the latest attempt to launch the system in February and was unable to say today when it might be working.

Unions today urged the health board to consider shelving the system, which they said staff had lost faith in. Doctors and nurses are believed to be struggling to use the system to retrieve patients’ medical records and update them.

Health chiefs are understood to blame the trouble on problems with the software.

However, McKessonHBOC, the consultants hired to install the HIS, is thought to be insisting the system is ready for use.

HIS was heralded as a means of transforming the way hospital records are kept, ensuring that staff are able to access comprehensive, up-to-date information on patients’ personal details and treatment on computer.

Health bosses have now stopped training staff in how to use the system because of the disagreement between the ERI and the contractor.

Tom Waterson, Unison branch secretary, said: "We have always had concerns about the HIS programme. We have urged, and will continue to urge, the management team to look at whether we need to go ahead with this contract or not.

"The staff we have spoken to do not have faith in the system. It can’t deliver the system it promised to deliver. People raised concerns at the very start that this system has never been tested before anywhere in the world."

One hospital insider said the problem was that doctors and nurses were struggling to find their way around the system: "It’s not working at a satisfactory level for users to be able to use it. I think they’re tying to tweak it so its easier to use. It’s a shambles." Shona Robison, SNP health spokeswoman, said: "It’s disappointing that such an important development is subject to yet again further delays.

"This is being heralded as a crucial development in patient information at the hospital and questions have to be asked about why we are seeing further delays and when we can reasonably expect to have this new system which will improve patient care in place.

"Somebody has to take responsibility for taking it forward."

A hospital spokeswoman insisted the system would eventually save money for the NHS because of the staff time that it would cut down on.

However, she was unable to say when the system might be up and running.

The hospital and McKesson issued a joint statement, which said: "At present, there is a difference of opinion between McKesson and the division [hospital] over the readiness of the software for implementation. We are in active discussions at a senior level to resolve this difference, but can’t add any more than that."

HIS was designed to cut paperwork and administration costs and speed up hospital treatment by giving medical staff immediate, bedside computer access to patient records and operational information.

McKesson signed a deal to deliver the system in 1999 and health chiefs claimed it would bring hospital record-keeping into the 21st century.