The NHS Care Record Service (CRS) is a key component of the NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT). It will deliver integrated, modern, safe and secure administrative and clinical systems thus providing a joined-up, more efficient and more effective health care service in England.
Background
Driving best value through procurement
Working with BT Global Services as the Local Service Provider (LSP), the London Programme for IT (LPfIT) is responsible for the delivery of the NHS Care Record Service in London. Contracts to deliver the CRS in London were signed in late 2003.
A Programme within the London Strategic Health Authority (NHS London), LPfIT took on responsibility for delivery during 2007, following the devolution of responsibility for delivery to the Strategic Health Authorities, as part of the commitment to increasing NHS engagement and in order to deliver systems that reflected local NHS needs and priorities.
Approach
Rising to the near and medium term challenges
One of the key deliverables, which ASE jointly developed with the LPfIT team, was a delivery strategy to support both the short term need and the longer-term goal of joined-up healthcare objectives. Using its experience of software development and the health care system market, ASE advised on the deployment of a selection of best-of-breed COTS products that would meet urgent administrative and clinical need, but enable customisation in later releases.
Using ASE's design assurance expertise, the BT proposals were also evaluated against the alignment with the NPfIT's developing Enterprise Architecture, and the viability of development plans to meet deployment targets, and appropriate transfer of risk to the LSP. A key element of the assessment of the LSP delivery plan was the opportunity for support of wider integration in the future to meet on-going and continually evolving future requirements.
Subsequent to the agreement, ASE has continued to support LPfIT by assuring the design of the LSP systems, using expertise in software development and systems integration, to ensure LSP compliance with the requirements as agreed, and that the applications offer a viable and extensible solution. Part of the subsequent work has included developing knowledge and skills with NHS CFH and LPfIT staff for the longer-term benefit of the National Programme.
Outcome
Successful delivery
ASE's work has led to the successful deployment of systems in acute, community and mental health care settings, and a cross-care setting application thereby helping to meet the tactical objective of rapid deployment where needed the most.
Customised releases of applications, with integration to national services, have now started to be deployed, offering the first step in a joined-up healthcare in London. The first version of the shared record, across care settings in London is currently in development. Once deployed, it will offer health care professionals a more complete picture of a patient's care record, delivering safer healthcare for patients across the capital.