£100K to tackle new hospital computer system at Walsall Manor Hospital
Problems with a new hospital computer system that was supposed to make it easier to process patient information are continuing, bosses have admitted.
But they say 25 temporary workers taken on at Walsall Manor Hospital at a cost of £100,000 are helping to tackle the issues.
Their contracts are already being extended beyond the initial three months - and bosses admit they are struggling to get back to 'business as usual'.
Staff complained that the new Lorenzo system actually slowed them down, and left them struggling to fit all their work into their day, fearing it could lead to mistakes in booking appointments and clinics.
Twelve projects have been launched to solve issued with the system.
The new system will eventually mean the removal of the need for staff to physically retrieve paper files from storage rooms.
A report by Steve Darkes, director of informatics, says: "A number of issues have arisen as part of the implementation that the trust needs to get on top of to provide a stable base for the staff to adapt to the new system and for the trust to have timely and accurate information.
"The 'business as usual' phase is proving difficult but with the continued efforts of those involved, progress is being made and some areas are returning to business as usual, but there remain many challenges.
"The focus has shifted over the last month to try and get a greater understanding of the issues and problems facing users and staff – ie to listen and respond.
"There is also an acknowledgement that in some departments Lorenzo has exposed poor practice or placed additional stress and hence there is a need to support and unblock this with additional senior management support and focus.
"As reported to the last trust board the stabilisation phase will take longer than the initial 3 months indicated within the project plan. We will continue to review our progress weekly."
Latest figures show the cost of temporary workers at the hospital has dropped to below £1.5 million a month, as bosses battle to save money.
The bill rose to as high as £2m last year and was still up to £1.8m on agency, locum and bank workers at the start of 2014.
