Ministry of Health plans revision of computer screening

In response to a review of the notorious problems of bad and cervical cancer screening, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is considering a redesign of computer systems.

This commitment is part of a response to an independent review of the failures of the bad cancer screening invitation system, which appeared last May, which left 450,000 women short, some of whom "saw their lives." shortened. "

The recommendations outlined in the report include an immediate review by Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England to represent system users, and NHS Digital to reduce manual data entry and duplication and simplify the systems user interface. screening.

In its response, the DHSC stated that it recognized that manual data entry and overly complex user interfaces could cause women to lack screening and that it was "determined to take steps to minimize risk of error on the part of the user ".

He added that a group of cross-health services, led by PHE and involving Breast Screening Unit staff, would aim to reduce manual data entry and improve system usability. , with recommendations expected in June.

Unused system features were identified and the filtering platform rationalization started, according to the DHSC response.

The introduction of a new computer system for the bad cancer screening program would be a long-term solution to these problems, which would reduce the number of manual seizures and provide more performance. According to the answer, a business case for a future capital investment is being prepared for this purpose.

The DHSC response pointed out that the screening of computer filtering would be done as part of an intersystem digital transformation plan and in partnership with PHE, NHS England and NHS Digital, under the auspices of the NHS X recently announced.

A separate report from the National Audit Office (NAO), which reviewed a number of screening programs in England, concluded that they all rely on "a complex and aging computer system to identify who to invite to do the screening". , namely the National Health Application. and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS).

The responsibility for these systems is sometimes local, while some belong to PHE and others to NHS Digital. The Independent Review recommended rebadessing the supervisory structure of computer systems and other filtering programs based on the same computer system, such as NHAIS.

The DHSC said the changes in computer screening and the new governance structure would be informed by the review of adult cancer screening programs at NHS England, currently being conducted by Professor Mike Richards. NHS Chief Cancer Officer and former Chief Inspector of Care Quality Commission Hospitals. An interim report will be published next month and full conclusions should be presented for the summer.

According to the independent review, the incident of bad cancer screening was mainly due to a gap between the upper age limit defined in the national service specifications since 2013 and the way in which the program of Current screening has been performed since its inception.

The DHSC stated that after confirming that the age limit for bad cancer screening should remain at age 70 and 364 days, PHE was working with NHS Digital and its supplier Hitachi Data Systems to change the systems in place. result.

He added that PHE had hard coded into the computer system the age settings used to ensure that all screening services identified women aged 52 to 364 days and 70 to 364 days who had not been diagnosed. screened in the previous 36 months.