UK ends 11b [pounds sterling] EHRs system.

• Position: HEALTH RECORDS - Electronic health records

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The United Kingdom's plan to create the worlds largest single civilian computer system linking all parts of its National Health Service (NHS) and creating a centralized database of electronic patient records will be scrapped, ministers have announced.

Part of the controversial 10-year National Programme for IT, billions had been spent on the NHS system since it began in 2002. Its fate was partially sealed by a report from members of a Parliament committee that concluded that the 11.4-billion [pounds sterling] program had proved "beyond the capacity of the Department of Health to deliver," according to a report from The Independent.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said that, while creating a centralized database of electronic health records (EHRs) was a worthwhile goal, a huge amount of money had been wasted. The program had hoped to create an EHR for patients in England and connect 30,000 doctors to 300 hospitals.

"The department has been unable to demonstrate what benefits have been delivered from the 2.7 billion [pounds sterling] spent on the project so far," Margaret Hodge, PAC chair, said. "It should now urgently review whether it is worth continuing with the remaining elements of the care-records system. The 4.3 billion [pounds sterling] which the department expects to spend might 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."

The Independent said the government has announced...