N3 plans unclear after shake up of aggregation boards
The future of the regional bodies charged with aggregating public sector broadband purchasing, including that of the NHS, has been thrown into uncertainty after the DTI announced it will cease funding the National Aggregation Board. According to the DTI, Regional Development Agencies are to decide whether or not to continue funding regional allocation boards (RABs), […]
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NHS broadband plans thrown into confusion
The roll-out plans for new NHS broadband network (N3) look to be in some disarray after the future of the regional bodies charged with aggregating public sector broadband purchasing, including that of the NHS – was thrown into uncertainty. In February 2004 the Department of Health awarded a £530 million, seven-year contract with BT to […]
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NPfIT launches website, but turns back on talkback
The National Programme for IT has unveiled a new website, www.npfit.nhs.uk, featuring a host of detailed information about the programme and its implementation – but the “Your Say" section, where a public discussion forum had been planned, was removed shortly after it appeared. An NPfIT spokesman said the “Your Say” feature would become a key part of the website but […]
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Blair: Choose and Book historic development
Tony Blair has defended the development of the NHS’s Choose and Book programme, the new name for the new NHS e-booking service, at Prime Minister’s question time as the deadline for the first live e-booking looms closer. Speaking on 16 June, Blair said: "It is this government, for the first time in the context of […]
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BT to compensate NPfIT for missed N3 targets
BT has been asked to pay the NHS damages for missing two targets in the delivery of its N3 broadband service. A spokesperson for the NPfIT said: “BT has met all but 2 of 56 milestone deliverables with in the first phase of this work. The authority has therefore requested that BT pay an appropriate […]
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BT awarded NHS broadband contract
BT has won the N3 (New National Network) contract to provide and manage a broadband network to link all NHS organisations in England, health minister, John Hutton, announced today. As had been widely anticipated, BT was chosen ahead Cable and Wireless for the N3 contract, which will see it act as integrator, rather than as a broadband service provider iteself. […]
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EDS pulls out of bidding for N3 contract
EDS has pulled out of the bidding for the N3 contract to provide the NHS with a new broadband network that will underpin the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) project to modernise NHS IT systems. The N3 network will be vital to the success of the central electronic patient record, the NHS Care Records Service, […]
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No rational reason to make N3 a closed system
NHS IT director-general Richard Granger says there will be adequate controls on information passing over the new NHS network but that much of the network will be built across public switch equipment. Granger told the International e-Health Association conference in London on 16 October: “I can see no rational reason for not doing this.” He […]
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N3 Short-list Announced
The National Programme for IT in the NHS (NPfIT) has announced the shortlist of bidders selected for the New National Network (N3) contract for a new broadband network for the NHS due to be awarded by March 2004. Three suppliers have been shortlisted: BT, Cable & Wireless and EDS. BT and Cable & Wireless are […]
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NAO Begins Review of National Programme
The National Audit Office has begun reviewing aspects of the £2.3 billion NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) after having been contacted by a number of correspondents raising issues of concern. A spokesperson for the NAO told E-Health Insider confirmed that the NAO has already established contact with the national programme and that high-level face-to-face […]
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