The followingrelease was sent to me today.
Press Release
Mark McArdle MP
ShadowMinister for Health
LNP Memberfor Caloundra
7 September2011
Labor’s health IT bungles spread from payroll topatients
The BlighLabor Government’s health IT bungling has spread from payroll to patients andcould cost another half a billion dollars to fix, a secret Queensland Health‘risk report card’ obtained by the State Opposition reveals.
In StateParliament today, the LNP tabled a leaked extract from Queensland Health’s ICTPortfolio Plan 2011 – 15 which identified IT “risks” resulting in “major” to“extreme” consequences for patients and the State Government.
Theseincluded:
· That the discontinuation of the current PatientAdministration System could result in “the inability to register, admit,transfer and discharge patients as well as effectively manage clinical andfinancial patient information”.
· The “inability to provide quality information tosupport quality of care”.
· “Insufficient funding for business-as-usualactivities and change programs” including the new local hospital networks beingestablished under Federal health reforms and the health payroll overhaulrecommended by the Ernst and Young report.
· “Inability to acquire suitable workforcecapability”.
Labor’s secret health IT risk report cardreveals it would cost $438.8 million to upgrade or replace the current PatientAdministration System, and work needs to start from July 2012.
This is on top of the $307 million budgetedfor the eHealth Strategy and the $220 million needed to fix the health payrolldebacle.
LNP ShadowMinister for Health Mark McArdle said Labor’s secret risk report card was adamning assessment of Labor’s chaotic management of Queensland Health’s ITprogram.
“The systemicleadership and management failures of the health payroll system have spread tothe entire Queensland Health IT program under Health Minister Geoff Wilson,”said Mr McArdle.
“Put simply,patients’ lives could be put at risk because Labor has failed to properly planand deliver health IT infrastructure.
“Hundreds ofmillions of dollars have been wasted fixing up Labor’s health payroll debacle,and now we learn hundreds of millions of dollars more will need to be spent toensure patients’ records are accurate.”
Mr McArdlesaid the report would also spark fears Queensland could miss out on Federalfunding because the State Government was not fully prepared for the changesrequired under the National Health and Hospital Networks Program.
“This damningreport reveals that the Bligh Labor Government is struggling to ensure that thenew hospital networks have the IT infrastructure in place in time, and that thehealth payroll overhaul actually happens,” Mr McArdle said.
“TheQueensland Health IT debacles that started under Paul Lucas continue underHealth Minister Geoff Wilson, who has now been in the job 200 days.
“Both PaulLucas and Geoff Wilson are culpable for Queensland Health’s multiple ITdeficiencies.
“EveryQueenslander has the right to ask when will this tired, 20 year old LaborGovernment finally fix their bungled IT systems?
“The LNP willsave you money and deliver more by getting action on the basics and cuttingwaste. We’ll forward plan, not live for the moment.
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I have seenthe extract from “ Commercial in Confidence - ICT Portfolio Plan 2011-15 PartA v1.0 FINAL” Page 22 of 83 on which the quotes in this release are based and what is quoted ismild. Clearly some worried Queensland Health Staff are wanting a great dealmore money to operate and are using some interesting tactics to try and raiseinterest! Go for it is all I can say - but spend sensibly. I note in the part Isaw the PCEHR does not get a gurnsey!
Fun stuff andI look forward to someone sending me the full report!
David.
