Change for changes sake

[edo]

I don't think there was anything wrong with the idea of a national NHS database. In fact I think it's an idea that's long overdue.

The NHS is still in the dark ages when it comes to internal communication. What other big organisation these days would send reports (in this case patient notes) via the post? I can't count the number of times my notes have "been lost" when I've moved surgeries. All totally avoidable with a central database.

The problem it seems was the delivery of the idea. Clearly the NHS wasted a shed load of money on useless consultants, but I also think local health trusts should shoulder some of the blame. I spoke to an NHS manager a couple of months ago and he said the project was doomed to fail because each foundation hospital wanted to use their own bespoke system and a national database couldn't provide that.

My repsonse to the hospitals would be: you work for the NHS so you use our central system. Or put another way: please join us in the 21st century.

Ed