BT racks up 70 default notices for health IT services

BT given 70 default notices for critical service level failures

BT, the NPfIT local service provider for London and the South, was given 70 default notices for critical service level failures between August 2009 and March 2010, according to a written answer to a parliamentary question from shadow health minister Stephen O'Brian.

This compares with 41 default notices accrued by CSC, the local service provider for the North Midlands and East of England during the same period.

Accenture, which was the local service provider for the North Midlands and East of England until 2006 when it bowed out of the deal because it hadn't been paid, was handed 56 default notices over a seven-month period.

In addition to the information revealed, health minister Mike O’Brien said in the written answer: “The majority of the matters identified have been addressed using the existing contractual remedies."

When commenting on the story in E-Health-Insider, a spokesman for BT said: “BT has a good track record in providing a high level of service to the NHS. In the event of any service issues, we always work to resolve them as soon as we can."

The Conservatives have pledged that trusts will be provided with a wider choice of service providers, thereby increasing competition and efficiency and potentially driving down cost.