|
Royal Free computers
• THEY say pioneers are the ones face down in the mud with arrows in their backs. But why should the Royal Free’s pioneering efforts to computerise the health system be paid for by patients?
The government came up with the system and is now talking about “learning lessons” from the Royal Free’s problems – which are leading to a financial shortfall. Well, lessons should be paid for and the government needs to bail out at least a proportion of the costs to the hospital.
The whole country stands to benefit from the Royal Free’s experience. Eventually computers will streamline and improve the NHS. But the hospital’s users – and staff – are suffering now and will go on suffering as a result of being in the frontline. That is neither right nor fair.
Val Bynner
Mansfield Road, NW3
|
|
|
|
|
|