Leicestershire and Lincolnshire Health Authorities are connecting 250 doctors’ surgeries and clinics to a network that will link to the national NHSNet. Cable and Wireless was chosen to supply the network because they have two framework contracts with the NHS covering all the services required. The framework contracts allowed them to offer a fast, one month procurement route, compared to the usual twelve months and a one stop shop. 

The NHS has avoided independent scrutiny of its clinical activities since it was founded 50 years ago. It is now falling into line with all other public services with the launch of the Commission for Health Improvement, which has a similar appearance to OFSTED, the schools inspectorate. 

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor GeneralDelays in issuing passports earlier this year led to much anxiety and inconvenience for members of the public hoping to travel. By June, the Passport Agency had around 565,000 applications awaiting processing. The initial cause of delay was the introduction from October 1998 of a new passport processing system to replace an ageing computer system. Siemens Business Services is responsible for providing the new system.