GPs worried about having to change to new untested software systems

By 2010, every patient in England should have an individual electronic NHS care record.

In essence, this refers to a computer file that includes general practice and hospital records, detailing key treatments and care.

The 10 year contract to set up and run the NHS Care Records Service (NHS CRS) was awarded to BT in December 2003 and is worth £620m ($1.1bn; 932m).

The service will connect more than 30 000 GPs and 270 acute, community, and mental health NHS trusts in a single system.

Although much of the work is being developed nationally there are important local variations. BT will be the national application …