See http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20041111.html
I agree with his point that the big IT consultancy/integrator firms operate on a project management headcount basis, but he ignores the potential of open source development methods (as opposed to the use of open source software components). He also completely ignores the lock-in which Microsoft will achieve, not just with the NHS, but also with the major health system vendors such as iSoft (already a Microsoft buddy) and CERNER. Given the size of the NHS contracts, these and other large commercial health software vendors will have even more reason to concentrate on development of their products for the latest Windows platforms, rather than for open platforms. That will effect not just the UK NHS, but customers of these vendors elsewhere as well. I think the rich countries need to look to developing and transitional countries to save them from a Microsoft-dominated health IT environment over the next decade. Tim C PS I am sending this from MS Outlook Express instead of my usual Ximian Evolution mail client due to an upgrade now in progress on my desktop Linux machine. TRC
