National Programme for what?

Ask medical secretaries when surveyed on their awareness of the National Programme for IT amongst administration staff in the NHS

Over two thirds (68%) of administration staff working in the NHS have no idea what the National Programme for IT is, according to research commissioned by specialist recruitment consultancy, The Principle Partnership. Of the 32% who are aware of it, only 20% believe that it will demand new IT skills.

Less than a third (32%) claim to have heard of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract which was launched in April of this year (2004). Of those who have heard of it, none believe that they will need new IT skills in order to implement or support it.

But despite this knowledge gap, 95% believe that IT skills are fundamental to their role and the remaining 5% believe they are becoming more important. Reassuringly, only 5% said that pressure to become more IT literate would put them off a long term career in the medical profession.

Chris Smith, CEO of The Principle Partnership, comments:

ìGiven that the National Programme for IT is having and will continue to have a significant impact on administration staff in the NHS, it is worrying that only a few of those surveyed know about the initiative. However, on the flip side, itís reassuring that medical administration staff accept that IT skills are a fundamental part of their roles going forward and are not put off by the need to acquire new IT skills.î