Learning lessons from a hidden success of the NHS national programme for IT

Greenhalgh and Keen’s insightful critique of the national programme for IT in England rightly identifies the contradictory narratives that prevail at the policy and public level.1 Despite this, IT provision in the NHS is moderately healthy, although in need of some preventive care. One example is the pathology messaging implementation programme, which delivers test results from NHS laboratories to GP practices. Introduced between 1997 and 2004, this service delivers about two …