Case Study I

The National Programme for Information Technology is the largest civil IT program worldwide at an estimated cost of £6.2 bn, US$ 10 billion, over a ten-year period. Launched in 2002, it provides an opportunity for the IT service industry to develop business models in the UK healthcare sector in which, historically, has seen low investment in IT services. Despite highly publicised large-scale IT outsourcing contracts, many IT vendors have been unable to fulfil the rigid terms and conditions of their contracts. The chapter provides current additional evidence to that found in the literature on emerging technologies in the health sector. It aims to investigate some of the issues that are associated with the implementation of the emerging technologies in the NHS and explores whether the implementation of the National Program, by the NHSIA, would bring value to patient care, and influence staff perception of IS.