NHS IT: learning lessons from 'Choose & Book'

When the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published its report on 'NHS waiting times for elective care in England' earlier this month, it described the NHS’ electronic appointment booking system, Choose & Book, as “a missed opportunity to improve patient care and data quality”.

In this research note we consider what lessons can be learnt from Choose & Book, which comes to an end this year, and examine whether the new e-Referrals service that’s set to replace it stands any better chance of success. Analysing the two very different projects also provides an excellent illustration of how UK government ICT strategy has changed over the last decade.

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