It has been confirmed that the Government's £20bn computer left NHS patients waiting longer according to The Sunday Times. The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust in Oxford was one of the leading Trusts based on the Department of Health's league tables before they piloted the new computer systems.

In 2005 just 12 people were waiting more than 6 months for an operation, but in 2006 the numbers rose to more than 100, mostly due to the Nuffield hospital. When the system went "live", it crashed and data could not be found, resulting in some patients waiting the longest in the country for an operation. Technician trying to fix the system could not even ascertain which patients were waiting the longest, resulting in the Nuffield contributing 123 out of a national total of 199 patients who have waited more than 6 months for an operation.

The new NHS computer system costs have spiralled out of control, with an estimated £14 billion overspend. Surely, money that could had been used better on other patient services.

£20 Billion NHS Computer Makes Patients Wait Longer