ASSIST has made a formal submission to an Independent Review Group, commissioned by and reporting to Stephen O'Brien MP, the Conservative Shadow Health Minister.

The Review Group has been established to inform the future policy for the use of information technology in the NHS, health and social care in England.

ASSIST's submission was developed through a facilitated workshop for senior informaticians held on Wednesday 24th September 2008, with other ASSIST members contributing by correspondence. ASSIST is grateful to John Farenden and Tribal for leading the workshop, continuing Tribal's long-term support of ASSIST.

The ASSIST National Council had little time to undertake this process to fit in with the timescales of the Independent Review Group. We would like to believe that we have covered all the relevant issues but recognise that this might not be so. Any comments on the submission should be sent to the ASSIST National Council Secretary (pam.hughes@nhs.net). National Council will be able to consider these at its next meeting in November.

View the formal submission here