Advanced GP System of Choice (GPSoC)

Currently there are 26 GP practices that use the Crosscare solution. The current contract expires with Crosscare on the 31/3/2022.

Given the dependency on IT in General Practice, stopping these services would very significantly impact on the ability of the 26 Crosscare GP practices to provide GMS services. Practices would be unable to access patient histories or record consultations against an electronic patient record. They would also be unable to interface electronically with other HSC systems - E.g. lab results, radiology reports, registration links, Emergency Care Summary, Key Information Summary, Electronic Document Transfer, GPIP etc. - so reintroducing delay and inaccuracy in patient care.

A key element identified in the strategy was the alignment with England's GMS IT procurement, known as GP IT Futures, and the use of its proposed GP IT Futures Catalogue and GP IT Futures Framework.

Unfortunately, the on boarding of systems and services onto the GP IT Futures Catalogue in England was delayed, in part due to covid pressures. This delay has had a knock on effect on the necessary assessment of all options within the NI procurement strategy. The NI procurement strategy is now being finalised and procurement planning now shows that the new NI contracts should be in place by March 2023 or shortly thereafter.

The justification for this DAC, therefore, is to ensure the existing services continue uninterrupted until those services can be procured through contracts established by the on-going procurement process.