Ben Bradshaw becomes minister for NHS IT
The Department of Health has announced that Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, will be the new minister responsible for the National Programme for IT. Bradshaw replaces Lord Hunt, as minister of state for health services. Lord Hunt replaced Lord Warner as the minister responsible for NHS IT and Connecting For Health in January after returning […]
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DH blasted for ‘back room deal’ with Dr Foster
The Department of Health ignored procurement guidelines and pursued a ‘back room deal’ on NHS information which was ‘handed to Dr Foster on a plate’, according to a committee of MPs. Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has today heavily criticised the DH for agreeing a joint venture with health informatics company Dr Foster without putting […]
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GPSoC approved by the Treasury
The GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) initiative has received Treasury approval and the primary care system suppliers are expected to sign agreements in principle by the end of this month. The agreements will mark the fruition of the GPSoC project first launched in March 2006 with the aim of delivering IT system choice for GPs […]
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No new money for GPSoC – now due July
Funding for the GP Systems of Choice initiative will come from existing Connecting for Health funds rather than new funds, with the scheme still awaiting Treasury approval. Dr Gillian Braunold, joint GP clinical lead for CfHonnecting for Health, told EHI Primary Care last week that the business case has not yet been signed off by […]
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OGC accused of shredding Gateway review reports
The Office of Government Commerce has reportedly ordered civil servants to destroy copies of Gateway review reports into government computer upgrades, to prevent information on delayed projects being leaked or disclosed under Freedom of Information legislation. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Gateway Process examines government programmes and projects at key decision points in their […]
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OJEU notice signals start of GP systems procurement
Procurement for GP Systems of Choice will begin this week and be complete in three months’ time, finally delivering the right to IT system choice enshrined in the 2003 GMS contract, NHS Connecting for Health has announced. CfH has received approval from the Treasury to proceed with the procurement and a notice has today been […]
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GP Systems of Choice procurement on track but late
The GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) scheme looks likely to go ahead – although procurement will not be complete by 1 April as originally planned. A spokesperson for CfH told EHI Primary Care that the GPSoC business case was approved by the Department of Health in December 2006. Approval from the Treasury is still outstanding but […]
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Change in stance on migration costs for GP systems
NHS Connecting for Health has agreed to provide a fixed contribution to cover the migration costs for GP practices moving to hosted systems outside their local service provider solutions, in a change of its stance on GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC). An update on the GPSoC proposals released this week also confirms the intention to […]
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On the road
EHIPC talks to GP clinical lead Professor Mike Pringle about how CfH will use its new national GP engagement workshops.
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CfH changes tack on GP Systems of Choice
NHS Connecting for Health has decided to go out to tender for suppliers to take part in GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC). An advertisement will be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) once Treasury approval for the scheme has been received. It will mean on-going contract negotiations with individual GP suppliers […]
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