Inquiry5

The Auditor General for Wales published a report on NHS Wales Informatics Services in January 2018.

The report considers the arrangements for delivering national informatics services and focused on whether NHS Wales is well placed to achieve the intended benefits from investment in updated clinical informatics systems. For the purposes of this study, the report includes the Welsh Government’s Department of Health and Social Services as part of NHS Wales. The report focuses in particular on the arrangements within NHS Wales Informatics Services (NWIS) to deliver national systems. Six specific systems were considered in more detail as indicators of the wider approach to informatics. This work also included looking at health boards’ engagement with the delivery of national systems.

The Public Accounts Committee undertook an inquiry during the summer 2018 term, publishing its report in November 2018 and considered the Welsh Government’s response in January 2019. A plenary debate was held on 30 January 2019.

The Committee continued to monitor progress against the recommendations through correspondence and held a further evidence session with the Welsh Government in autumn 2019. The Committee was scheduled to return to this issue with the Welsh Government in autumn 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, agreed to seek an update by written communication. 

The Auditor General published a Report - Welsh Community Care Information System (WCCIS) – in October 2020. More than five years into the contract term, this report painted a concerning picture about progress with the implementation and rollout of the WCCIS which has been promoted as the key digital plank of the Welsh Government’s plans for integrated health and social care services.

The Committee was scheduled to consider the WCCIS Report in November 2020 with the Welsh Government alongside the wider NHS informatics landscape. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, observations were received by written communication.