Call grows for independent audit of NHS system
NAO audit of IT system not enough
A letter written to the House of Commons Health Select Committee has called
for an independent audit of the NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT).
Signed by 23 of the UK’s top academics in computer-related sciences, the
letter claims a report by the National Audit Office, which has been delayed
until later this year, is not expected to address major technical issues.
The letter, seen by Computer Weekly, said ‘Concrete, objective
information about NPfIT’s progress is not available to external observers.
Reliable sources within NPfIT have raised concerns about the technology itself.’
It goes on to say: ‘As computer scientists, engineers and informaticians, we
question the wisdom of continuing NPfIT without an independent assessment of its
basic technical viability.’
The open letter was sent to the Health Committee by Martyn Thomas, visiting
professor of software engineering at Oxford University