Time For Zero-Tolerance

I heard the blindingly obvious statement at the recent Intellect stream of BCS HC2013 Conference in Birmingham that “If you give people software that makes there life easier then adoption is not a problem” Given the clear truth of this statement, I wonder why so many “designing” and procuring NHS IT Systems manage to deliver systems that make life more difficult for frontline staff undermining the quality and service they are able to offer patients.

If we are to get the benefits proposed by those promoting a paperless NHS this has to end and we have to introduce a regime of Zero-Tolerance for systems that make life more difficult for frontline staff.

How do we do this? I have some suggestions:

• Transparency – Let’s encourage NHS Staff to name and shame systems that make their life more difficult, with reviews and rankings published with maybe some new categories in the EHI Awards for good design and something akin to the “Golden Bull Awards” for the worst examples. Let’s be honest, when the Emperor has no clothes, too often I hear positive comments about NHS IT systems in front of senior management which evaporate when you talk to frontline staff in private. Both sides are to blame here, management can’t be expected to recognise the problem when they are continually told that the “heap of crap” they ask staff to use is “powerful fertiliser” and senior managers need to reward those who bring them bad news.