SHAs take on Choose and Book

Strategic health authorities are to be given responsibility for sorting out technical problems with Choose and Book.

NHS Connecting for Health told EHI Primary Care that it is devolving responsibility for technical assistance for Choose and Book to SHAs in 2009-10.

A spokesperson said: “It is now considered an appropriate time – and a positive sign of the system’s uptake – that the NHS has greater ownership of funding to control technical support for their local area to ensure maximum use of Choose and Book.”

CfH said no new funding had been allocated to SHAs, although they would receive money that was previously controlled centrally. The amount will vary for each SHA, depending on size.

The NHS IT agency said it had delivered “a fully working application” and that performance of the system was mostly dependent on local IT set-up and maintenance, which was the hands of local NHS organisations.

“It is therefore only right that the local NHS is in control of the funding to address these issues,” the spokesperson added.

CfH said Choose and Book was making good progress in becoming the standard method of referral, with half of referrals for first outpatient appointments being made using the system, rising to 90% in some areas.

The BMA’s General Practitioner Committee has advised its local medical committees that SHAs have been allocated resources specifically to fund the costs of eliminating technical problems with the Choose and Book software.

The GPC said: “We recommend that LMCs contact their local SHA chief information officer to ascertain whether any action has been taken.”