NHSIA Names Preferred IT Trainer

The NHS Information Authority has named a consortium led by Spring IT Training as preferred supplier to deliver basic IT skills training for everyone working in the NHS through the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).

The consortium led by Spring IT Training and including Learn ECDL and NCC Education, was selected after a six month procurement process, and will handle the delivery and support of ECDL training for the NHS.

The consortium will deliver a national tracking and monitoring service for ECDL registrations and access to the learning and testing materials.

Access to the free training, through a voucher scheme, is due to be available nationally at the end of the summer.

George Davies, who has led work at the NHSIA to establish ECDL as a referenced standard, said: “Research has indicated that there is a lack of basic IT skills across the service, yet they are pivotal to integrating IT within the NHS – a point that has been recognised in the new national IT programme, Delivering 21st Century IT Support."

He added: “We believe that ECDL is key to improving skills and as it is based on e-learning will allow staff to learn at their own pace and in their own time." Support material will also be made available to help staff not comfortable about electronic learning.

ECDL is a flexible, modular qualification designed to cover the key concepts of IT and its practical application in the workplace. It provides a referenced standard for the NHS.

George Davies added: "This is a chance for all staff to bring their skills up to date, and achieve an internationally recognised IT qualification. It doesn’t matter whether you work as a clerk, a GP or a consultant in hospital or primary care, the training is available for all. It isn’t too difficult and yet it is relevant to both work and private life".

It is estimated that a complete novice should be able to complete the whole qualification in about 100 hours while those with some IT skills can complete it in as few as 20 hours. The ECDL consists of 7 modules covering basic concepts of IT through to the use of basic enterprise packages, such as word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

Registrations for ECDL training will be managed by the NHS Information Authority on behalf of the British Computer Society. In the interim ECDL training is currently still available through a scheme managed by the NHS Information Authority.