http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healt ... -deal.htmlIT firm behind 'unworkable' NHS database keeps IT dealBy Robert Winnett, Political Editor
10:00PM GMT 05 Mar 2012
Ministers have agreed to give the American company responsible for the “unworkable” NHS database almost £1 billion in health contracts, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
Computer Sciences Corporation, an American IT firm, previously had a £1.9 billion contract for the national NHS system which was scrapped by Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, last year.
The firm is understood to have threatened legal action against the Government and is now thought to have agreed to continue with up to £900 million of NHS work in return for dropping any legal action.
It will run computer systems for the NHS across the north, midlands and eastern England under the deal which is expected to be agreed in the coming days.
Ministers are expected to herald the “compromise deal” as a success which will save the taxpayer about £1 billion. However, it underlines the difficulties faced by the Coalition in extricating itself from previous contracts agreed by the last Government.
It will also add to growing allegations that despite the high-profile announcement that the beleaguered national NHS database is being scrapped – it is simply being replaced by a series of similar regional systems which will perform the same function.
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