Health computer use to cost double

Press, 17 June 1980, Page 6

Health computer use to cost double

PA < Wellington The cost of computer services offered to hospital boards by the Health Department is at least twice as expensive as letting boards run their own computers. According to information supplied to Wellington’s “Evening Post” newspaper, the services run by the Wellington Hospital Board cost $149,299 a year while the health computer would cost the board $302,750 a year. .■ The Health Department computer’s payroll system alone would cost $161,500, more than the total yearly cost of all the Wellington board’s computer services!

At the moment the board is paying $75,354 for its computerised payroll which is looked after .jointly by two private companies. The

Health ■ ■ Department system Was dismissed as one of the. alternatives by board staff because of the "tremendous annual cost”., •

The departmental chief executive of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr G. I. Davies) said yesterday his board was aware there would be extra expense ip-' volved in transferring to the new national computer sys-; tem for payroll matters from present locally-based computers. However, a significant rise in expenditure,; would be matched by im?proved new systems and management information outlet. .' -. ,?’ • . y. Mr Da vies said'admissions? and discharges would involve the hospital board in significant extra costs which had not, yet been calculated. .1