Validating national informatics policy--the importance of operational consensus to influence positive developments

The National Health Service in England faces reorganisation of services on a very regular basis. In 2002 a 'Long Term Review of Health Trends', commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer indicated the need for a substantially larger investment in informatics to support the delivery of better healthcare overall. Subsequent to the issue of this report, the Spending Review confirmed an investment of pound 2.3 Billion (approximately $3.7 Bn) for the period to 2005 for NHS informatics, subject to performance. This paper describes the actions taken by the national representative society (the British Computer Society Health Informatics Committee) to ensure that the views of those in the field were taken into account in facilitating the best possible outcomes from this investment. In addition, the initiative established has confirmed the ongoing priorities for involvement in health informatics, regardless of professional role, in support of healthcare. The outputs and insights gained from two years of this initiative provide useful points for thought about health informatics and health management in other countries and under different models of care to that of the NHS in England.