---

Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target turnaround time is for the assessment of full business cases for computer systems of a value in excess of £1 million submitted by NHS hospital trusts by (a) regional offices accredited for approval of business cases up to a value of £20 million and (b) regional offices without such accreditation. [144254] Mr. Denham: The target turnaround time for the assessment by National Health Service Executive regional offices of full business cases (FBCs) for NHS trust computer systems is two months from submission of the final version of the FBC to approval. This target is contained in the indicative project timetable for smaller schemes contained in guidance to the NHS on the private finance initiative but it is applied to all FBCs for computer systems, whether or not PFI is used. The target time applies whether a regional office is accredited or not. If a regional office is not accredited, the FBC must also be approved by NHS Executive headquarters, but the headquarters and regional office assessments of the FBC are carried out simultaneously to minimise delay.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

360 c447-8W; 144254

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Software Computers Hospitals Finance Health authorities Private finance initiative NHS trusts NHS Executive

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk