Subject: DOH:THE NHS NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
2004/0161                                                         30 April 2004 
THE NHS NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCES NEW SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE NHS STAFF


The NHS National Programme for Information Technology today announced the creation of a new Front Line Support Academy to help NHS leaders with new technology. The first students are already booked for tuition in mid-May.  The academy will be supported by ground-breaking simulators which will mock-up realistic environments like hospital wards and GPs' surgeries and where clinicians will learn how best to use new systems with actors playing the role of patients.

The Department of Health also announced that it would be reviewing the formal arrangements for engaging the NHS, patients and other stakeholders, in order to support the effective implementation of the NPfIT.

Health Minister John Hutton said:

"NPfIT has successfully concluded its procurement phase, characterised by delivering excellent value for money and meeting strict and challenging deadlines. And of course a programme of this scale and complexity will have issues to deal with as its work unfolds.

"Now that the systems have been procured, the most important thing is that we engage and build trust with a wide range of stakeholders. 
The recent appointment of Professor Aidan Halligan recognises the importance we attach to helping the clinical community to embrace change."

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Aidan Halligan said:

"The programme is now moving rapidly into its implementation phase. We are, if you like, in the departure lounge ready for the next part of the journey. We know that our work will only succeed with the support of the medical community and patients alike. I am committed to broader and deeper dialogue - meeting and talking with real people
- inside and outside the health service."

Director General of NHS IT, Richard Granger said:

"We want to build on our early work and further strengthen the integration of technology into core clinical practice. Aidan's appointment, style and ideas for the next phase of the programme are most welcome."

Professor Halligan also said the he is going to mount his own tour of frontline Trusts in the next month.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For media inquiries only please contact the NHS National Programme for IT on 0113 280 6689.


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