NHS Case Study

Office of the Chief Scientist in a Regional Health Authority

Need for allocation of costs from bottom up for new IT systems

First financial information system for the acute sector of the NHS

Office of the Chief Scientist in a Regional Health Authority

Following the development of systems to record and manage patient activity and nursing shift patterns in the acute sector, there was a requirement to allocate costs using a 'bottom up' approach. Operating theatres were of particular interest. These data sets were to form the basis for managing change in the NHS. Written in MUMPS and running on DEC systems, there was a need to identify and manage the transfer to appropriate platforms to transition the programmes nationally. Of major importance was the need to gain 'buy in' at a clinical level.

Established internal team to carry out programming activities, taking the activity data as the base
Analysed and tested the data in pilot environments
Carried out onsite reviews to snag implementation problems
Starting with a major conference (700+ attendees) - deliver Communications programme covering all grades of staff
Implement nationally
Gained sign off at Ministerial level

The first Financial Information system for the acute sector of the NHS
Communications to all staff in the form of conferences, workshops, seminars, and exhibitions