GPs in Scotland are facing uncertainty over their digital systems after their largest supplier has gone into administration.
In Practice Systems, a subsidiary of Cegedim Healthcare Solutions, has stated on its website that it went into administration on 10 December.
The development has come at a particularly sensitive time as NHS Scotland has been migrating GPs from EMIS software to In Practice Systems.
The Royal College of General Practitioners for Scotland confirmed that it had been informed and that there was no immediate threat to the functioning of the software.
It said in a statement: "RCGP Scotland was briefed about this within hours of the company’s announcement and is closely monitoring this developing situation, and it is our understanding that contractual agreements mean that there is no immediate threat to service provision.
“Our thoughts are also with the company’s staff who have been dedicated to building a modern GP IT system for Scotland and who will also be troubled by the uncertainty.
"Scotland has learned from previous major IT incidents. We are glad that NSS immediately stood up an incident management team to handle this situation and I am engaged with the team as part of the clinical workstream group.”
NSS response
NHS National Services Scotland, which provides support services for the country’s health service also said it had been advised of the development and was assessing a response.
Its director of digital and security Steven Flockhart said: “We're working closely with health boards and the Scottish Government to rapidly assess the situation. Pre-existing contractual agreements are in place to ensure immediate service provision and to support services until a new solution or supplier is secured.
“We recognise this has occurred at a time of ongoing winter pressures and want to reassure board practitioners and patients that there is currently no risk to services following this development."
