RSS feedsGP systems will have to meet availability standards set by the £5bn National Programme for NHS IT (NPfIT), says health service IT director general Richard Granger.
He was responding to uncertainty amongst GPs about what internal practice systems they will need to access NPfIT applications such as ebookings and electronic patient records.
Under the GP contract agreed by the government earlier this year surgeries are guaranteed the right to choose which internal practice system they use.
But tere is concern that surgeries currently using the system provided by Emis - more than half of all UK surgeries - will be forced to move to a different system because Emis has not signed contracts to deal with NPfIT local service providers (LSPs).
'I am determined that will not throw baby out with bathwater - I really recognise the value of existing suppliers, they have got systems which are really popular and I respect that,' said Granger.
'Ultimately there will be a choice as to whether a GP wants a functionally rich system run by an organisation that really understands their business but which will not provide the level of availability out of hours.
'At the nub of these issues are NPfIT demands for greater availability and the possibility that the levels of profit they enjoyed historically, relative to low levels of risk, are being eroded,' he said.
Sean Riddell, Emis deputy managing director, says GPs need absolute clarity.
'Richard Granger seems to be saying there will be continued choice for GPs but it is clear that other chief executives in the NHS don't believe that is the case - one stood up in May and said the nature of the LSP contracts would effectively see the demise of all other systems and their currently suppliers,' said Riddell.
'If there is a choice for GPs, they are going to have to re-affirm there is funding that choice.
'Primary Care Trusts on the ground say there isn't funding - that all IT comes from the local service providers (LSPs) and there is no funding for non-LSP GP systems,' he said.
Riddell said deals were not being avoided because of profitability concerns but because the LSP contracts are commercially untenable for smaller suppliers.
What do you think? Email feedback@computing.co.uk
If you want to be first with the news, visit Computing every day.
