Computer scheme a 'failure'.

A PARLIAMENTARY hopeful has branded the Government's NHS computer database as "an abject and costly failure".

Simon Reevell, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Dewsbury, backed his Party's proposals to scrap Government plans for a central database of patient records.

The pounds 12bn centralised system has been dogged by problems since its launch in 2002.

And Mr Reevell branded it as being inefficient, behind schedule and insecure.

"The NHS is a unique organisation but its bureaucracy makes it inefficient, and the responsibility for that lies firmly at the Government's door,'' he claimed.

"Only by improving performance in this area can we expect improvements in the areas that the NHS exists for - patient care.

"The Government's IT schemes, imposed on the NHS, have been an abject and costly failure, using precious resources that could have been put to proper use - caring for patients.'' The Conservatives want to offer NHS trusts a choice of computer systems operated locally rather than having a single one imposed on them.

Mr Reevell added that there was scope for savings from the current, financially disastrous, project.