The introduction of a computerized system for notification and improved analysis of infectious diseases in Sheffield

In 1989 the manual system of recording and analysing notifications of infectious disease in Sheffield was replaced by a computerized system based on the Epi Info software package. An analysis of the costs and benefits of this change shows that there has been a one-off cost of 780-930 h spent in developing the system. Offset against this is a continuing saving of time of around 400 h per annum. Other benefits which are harder to measure are enumerated and discussed. Costs of computer hardware and software are not substantial in comparison with the savings in staff time.