Recommendation 26

We asked what was being done to improve productivity through the use of new technologies. NHSE told us the NHS currently lacks a consistent data infrastructure and that NHS providers varied in terms of their levels of technological maturity.50 NHSE said that it was putting modern technology into some of its providers that “have lived on paper”. While it still had work to do to complete the programme, its aim was to do so over the next 18 months.51 NHSE told us that the NHS providers that have already implemented electronic patient records have productivity levels that are 45 Q 3 46 Q 31 47 Q 38 48 C&AG’s Report, para 4.21 49 Q 3 50 Qq 79, 80 51 Q 79 16 13% higher than those yet to implement them.52 We note that the then Secretary of State for Health first challenged the NHS to go paperless in 2013, setting a target date of 2018.53 52 Q 10 53 Jeremy Hunt challenges NHS to go paperless by 2018 - GOV.UK (Press release 16 January 2013) 17