Investment, Expansion and Reform Plans Reinforce IM&T Agenda

Information management and technology (IM&T) is identified as one of the key areas underpinning NHS and social care development which needs to be expanded over the next three years.

The Department of Health’s priorities and planning framework for 2003-6, Investment Expansion and Reform published this week says that nationally the NHS will be looking for significant increases and developments in the three key areas of physical facilities, workforce and IM&T.

The detailed section on IM&T investment reiterates priorities previously spelled out in the strategy document, Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS: infrastructure and electronic bookings, prescriptions and records.

The new three year framework replaces the annual planning round and, says the department, is intended to provide a more stable basis for the NHS and social services to deliver locally on national priorities.

The framework summarises nine key delivery areas:
• Waiting, booking and choice

• Emergency care

• Cancer

• Coronary heart disease

• Mental health

• Older people

• Life chances for vulnerable children

• Patient experience and public accountability

• Tackling health inequalities.

Introducing the document, NHS chief executive, Nigel Crisp, says that simply achieving targets will not guarantee success.

”Organisations need to challenge old perceptions of public service and build public confidence in new systems. Cultural change is an essential part of the transformation. Crucially the NHS at all levels needs to embrace diversity in provision and choice for patients,” he says.