There is a recognition that ICT is critical in the delivery of General Medical Services (GMS) services across Northern Ireland and over recent times the ICT infrastructure and systems within GP practices have evolved.
The GP IT Modernisation Programme was established in 2020 to continue the modernisation of the GP ICT infrastructure in a controlled manner that will deliver benefits to GMS. The programme board membership comprises of representatives from NIGPC, SPPG, DHCNI and BSO ITS.
The GP IT Modernisation Programme is responsible for delivering a modernised GMS ICT infrastructure that will be the basis for future ICT developments that enhance the delivery of GMS Services. It will be flexible to meet current and emerging requirements, both technically and service led. This will bring benefits of improved clinical care, ability to meet the changing requirements within GMS and provide safe integration with other HSC systems.
The current projects within the Programme are:
GP2GP
Objective: Electronic transfer of patient notes between clinical systems when a patient moves practice.
GP IT Systems Migration
Objectives:
1. GP System Migrations – Migration from local hosting in GP practices premises, of all GP clinical systems and data, to a centrally hosted infrastructure in the HSC Data Centres.
2. Managed Virtual Desktop – All desktops in GMS migrated into a virtual environment within the HSCNI domain, enabling central management and support of all desktops by BSO ITS.
Project to commence pilot in February 2023
GMS ICT Business Case
Objective: Approval of a new GMS ICT business case for the period 2023 – 2028, for the funding to maintain the continued provision of GP ICT equipment and services in Northern Ireland.
GMS ICT Framework Procurement
Objective: Implementation of a new NI GP IT Futures Framework in 2023 with associated call of contracts to allow for the continued procurement of GP clinical systems.