Replacement of ‘archaic’ health records system approved despite some concerns
UP TO £20M. will be spent to update Guernsey’s antiquated health record-keeping system, although some States members said the timescale involved made them feel like they had ‘a gun to the head’.
The current electronic patient record system was described as ‘archaic’ and ‘creaking’, and the company which services it has refused to provide support beyond March next year because it is so bad.
A new system should give health staff instant access to information such as symptoms, X-rays, allergies, prescriptions and hospital stays.
It will also be possible to capture overall population health data, providing key information for Public Health.
The vice-president of Health & Social Care, Deputy Rhian Tooley, said the existing set-up was hugely inefficient and labour-intensive.
‘At the moment we have staff in effect queuing to use computers which are wheeled onto wards as televisions used to be wheeled into school classrooms, community teams take notes on paper or on their phones, sometimes emailing them into the centre and updating the records later.
‘This can cause genuine physical logjams, we can have staff congregating around in order to be able to input their data, trying to retain that data in their minds while they wait to do so.’
The project was approved overwhelmingly, although some members said they voted for it reluctantly because of the way it had been sprung upon them.
The hefty price tag was highlighted by Deputy Neil Inder, who commented that he could not understand why such a relatively small database should be so expensive.
‘For the life of me I cannot see why this has got a £15m. to £20m. price tag attached to it, that is a substantial amount of money.’
Another States member raising his eyebrows at the cost involved was Deputy Peter Ferbrache, who called it ‘eye-watering’.
He questioned why the expertise of the States’ IT provider could not be put to use.
‘We’ve got a £200m. contract with Agilisys over 10 years, we’re being asked to spend another £15-£20m., we know that’s not going to solve all the problems. I’m no computer expert but we’ve now got some excellent in-house computer people in the States of Guernsey.’
Deputy Jennifer Merrett was disappointed that the system would not be extended to include GPs at this stage.
As the president of Scrutiny Management, Deputy Chris Green had a number of concerns, including the near emptying of the capital reserve fund at such a critical time.
‘My committee broadly supports this essential development, but does believe that the costs and the risks associated with the programme should be fully understood.’
The policy letter was presented jointly by Policy & Resources, and committee member Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq convinced his colleagues that the issue could not ignored.
‘A systems failure would be very problematic and detrimental at this time.
‘It is not at all fit for purpose, the system is not efficient in time and functionality for those that are very important, particularly at the moment.’
The vote was 29 in favour, with six against and four abstentions.
