The government is expected to announce that it is scrapping its controversial 10-year National Programme for IT, which would have linked together all aspects of the health service under one network, and will allow local health trusts to buy computer systems that fulfil their own requirements.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says that the £11.4bn programme, which has been in turmoil since the first missed deadlines in 2007, is now way behind schedule and has cost much more than was originally intended. It says that, while it was a worthwhile aim, it has now wasted a great deal of money and the government should put the £4.3bn it had committed to spend on the system to be "better used to buy systems that are proven to work, that are good value for money and which deliver demonstrable benefits to the NHS".

It is understood that the government will soon unveil a new programme of IT in the NHS which will not include the use of a central system, though it will incorporate those parts which have already been delivered. It will instead allow local NHS trusts to retain their control over any decisions made rather than being forced to use a "one-size-fits-all" solution.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-pulls-the-plug-on-its-11bn-it-system-2330906.html