EmailThe Department of Health confirmed it is looking to conclude the first stage of negotiations to amend National Programme for IT contracts during this month, as part of the attempt to cut £600m from its budget announced by chancellor Alistair Darling in December.
Health minister Mike O'Brien told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his department is looking for a memorandum of understanding by the end of March. "I'm certainly not going to get into a situation where, because we're approaching an election some date soon the whole of government stops, and we can't make any contracts with suppliers of key NHS equipment," he said. "That would be complete nonsense."
The department said it is not attempting to "tie down deals" before the election, but is instead seeking to amend existing contracts. "Nothing in these contracts is decided by the proximity of an election," it said.
Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien accused the government of trying to lock in deals before the general election. "It is devastating for taxpayers to watch the government sign away billions more pounds on a failing IT programme and tie the hands of the next government," he said on 2 March 2010.
Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties plan major changes to the programme if elected to government, with greater choice for individual NHS trusts and changes and cancellations of some contracts.
"Much of the Programme has already been delivered within budget but there are some additional elements which we are considering whether or not to proceed with," the department added. "We are discussing these with the IT suppliers involved and the local NHS who set priorities. It would be irresponsible to delay negotiations on contracts because the opposition demands it for party political reasons."
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