AQW 32921/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health for a breakdown of the £2.5 billion spent on IT, in the three financial years to 2024-25.
Asked by David Honeyford MLA on 7 October 2025
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 7 October 2025
- Answer due by
- 22 October 2025
- Answered
- 30 October 202523 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Northern Ireland Audit Office published a report on “Major IT projects in Northern Ireland” on 4th July 2025. Appendix 2 of the report summarises Major IT programmes and projects in excess of £25million (whole life cost) ongoing from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025. The section relating to Department of Health shows the following:
| Major IT Project | Original expiration date of legacy contract | OBC Total estimated costs £million | FBC Total estimated costs £million | Actual / latest total estimated costs £million | Increase/ (decrease) estimated costs from OBC £million |
| Northern Ireland Picture Archiving and Communication System | Sep-18 | 136.5 | 130.4 | 130.4 | (6.1) |
| Northern Ireland Digital Identity Service | Sep-21 | 38.2 | 38.1 | 39.3 | 1.1 |
| Encompass See Case Study 1 | Multiple contracts | 982.5 | 1,950.0 | 1,930.0 | 947.5 |
| Equip Programme | Oct-21 | 145.1 | 218.2 | 218.2 | 73.1 |
| Core Laboratory Information Management System | Replaces 7 existing systems | 44.0 | 44.0 | 57.8 | 13.8 |
| Regional Blood Production and Tracking Solution | Jun-23 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 38.9 | 2.9 |
| ePharmacy Project 1 - GoPharmacy NI Note: OBC not yet submitted, figures are estimated. | 19.4 | 19.4 | 19.4 | - | |
| ePharmacy Project 2 - Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions Note: OBC not yet submitted, figures are estimated. | 38.4 | 38.4 | 38.4 | - | |
| Total | 1,440.1 | 2,477.4 | 2,472.4 | 1,032.3 |
| Major IT Project | Implementation completion date | Stage project currently at | Latest project highlight report RAG status |
| Northern Ireland Picture Archiving and Communication System | Dec-25 | Implementation | Green |
| Northern Ireland Digital Identity Service | Mar-26 | Implementation | Green |
| Encompass See Case Study 1 | Sep-27 | Implementation | Green |
| Equip Programme | Sep-26 | Implementation | Red |
| Core Laboratory Information Management System | Mar-26 | Implementation | Amber |
| Regional Blood Production and Tracking Solution | Sep-27 | Implementation | Green |
| ePharmacy Project 1 - GoPharmacy NI Note: OBC not yet submitted, figures are estimated. | Subject to funding | Initiation | Amber |
| ePharmacy Project 2 - Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions Note: OBC not yet submitted, figures are estimated. | Subject to funding | Initiation | Amber |
Major IT programmes and projects (in excess of £25million whole life cost) ongoing from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025 in Department of Health
The 8 major Department of Health digital initiatives listed in the report have full life commitments of £2.477 billion. It should be noted that expenditure on the ePharmacy initiative is indicative as this has not yet been funded or approved.