Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, has co-sponsored an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons that calls for an independent review of the cost of the NHS Connecting for Health computer system which could overrun by billions of pounds.
The House of Commons Health Select Committee, of which Mike is a member, has received a letter signed by 23 senior academics in computer-related science which criticises the NHS project. Also, reports in The Sunday Times, suggest that the project which was projected to cost £2.3 billion could in fact cost between £15 billion to £30 billion. This is at a time when NHS trusts are facing deficits of between £600 million and £1 billion. Mike Penning said:
It is outrageous that such extravagant and mind-boggling sums of money can be wasted on large computer projects by the NHS when at the same time front-line life-saving services are being cut to save comparatively small sums of money. I am sure that the new computer system will be invaluable but the Government should get its priorities right patients must come first. | 
