NHS 24
BOARD MEETING
28 JULY 2004
FOR APPROVAL
ITEM NO. 3.2
PROGRAMME REVIEW - PROJECT MANAGEMENT, TESTING
AND SUPPORT RESOURCING REQUIREMENTS
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to seek the approval of the Board for temporary contract
resources to Manage, Test and Support the IT aspects of the current NHS 24 Programme of
development work.
The Board is asked to approve the associated expenditure of £247,399 (including VAT)
which will be funded from the actual and projected underspend in other areas of the NHS 24
budget.
BACKGROUND
Following the first detailed review and prioritisation of the NHS 24 programme register
carried out by the Executive Team on 22nd June 2004, this paper seeks the approval for
allocation of funds from the IT Budget year ending 2004/05 for £247,399. Approval is sought
to utilise this financial resource to provide temporary additional Project Management (PM),
Testing, Business Analyst (BA), Database (DBA) and Service Support resource, and one
permanent Project Manager.
The NHS 24 IT Directorate is currently establishing a team of permanent employees for the
future as per the agreed IT Strategy, to cover new developments and other integration
projects (e.g. SAS, A&E). Additionally we are managing a structured handover process
between contactors and the permanent employees to allow continuity of service and
knowledge. It is our intention to use a mixture of permanent and contractors for the
foreseeable future to support the project and business demand.
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Current Staffing Position (as at end of July 2004)
The Test Group now have 2 permanent members of staff; a Test Manager and one full time
Test Analyst. Together with a secondee and 2 contract staff (expiring 31st August 2004), five
staff are working full time on the preparation and execution of test plans.
The Project Management team consists of 2 permanent members of staff and 2 contractors
(expiring 31st August 2004).
The Business Analysts (BA) team consists of 1 permanent member and 2 contractors
(expiring October 04 & Jan 05).
The support team consists of 1 Database Analyst (DBA) and a Service Support analyst both
contractors (expiring 31st August 2004).
Resource Shortfall
On the immediate horizon for the team is the continued support of the PRM V1.72 roll-out for
the remaining health boards. Resources are also required to support other projects such as
Complaints Systems, Scottish Standard Time System (SSTS), E-Health, Multimedia,
Contact Central and Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (Appendix 3).
After reviewing all the priority 1 & 2 (P1 & P2) projects, the net result of this situation is that
there is a resource shortage (Project Management, Testers, Business Analysts and Service
Support) to support these projects.
OPTION APPRAISAL
There are 4 options available:
1) Resource for the Priority one Projects only (appendix 1).
This option will allow the current priority one projects to be managed & tested with 1 new
permanent Project Manager, 1 Tester, 1 DBA, 1 Service Support and contract Project
Manager for a period of 7 months.
The technology team could not undertake any new projects without additional resource. P1
projects support the continued rollout programme and other minor technology improvement
projects (see appendix 1 for a full list).
This option is not recommended.
2) Remove projects that are managed by contractors &/or currently no PM allocated
(appendix 2)
This option will allow the current projects that are managed by full time staff (the rollout) to
be managed & tested with 1 new permanent Project manager, with no renewal of the current
contractors (2 Testers, 2 PM’s, 1 DBA and 1 Service Support).
The technology team could not undertake any new projects without additional resource. All
other projects (E-Health, Multi Media, SSTS etc) would have to be put on hold until after the
rollout (see appendix 2 for a full list).
This option is not recommended.
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3) Resource to manage P1 & P2 projects until end March 2005 (appendix 3)
This option will allow all the current P1 & P2 projects that have been prioritised and
approved by the Executive Team. The projects would require 1 new permanent Project
Manager and the renewal or replacement of the current contractors (2 testers, 2 PM’s, 1
DBA and 1 Service Support and the BA’s).
This option could manage, support and test the P1 & P2’s and could consider some
additional projects.
This option is not recommended.
4) Provide additional resource to manage P1 & P2 projects until the end of rollout 31st December 2004 (appendix 3)
This option will allow all the current P1 & P2 projects that have been prioritised and
approved by the Executive Team. The projects would require 1 new permanent Project
Manager, and the renewal or replacement of the current contractor (2 Testers, 2 PM’s, 1
DBA and 1 Service Support). With this option the technology team could manage the P1 &
P2’s, but only until the end of December (rollout completion).
This option will allow the technology team to Manage all P1 & P2’s with a opportunity to
review its position in November to assess the current project schedule and review option 3
(extension to the end of the financial year end)
This is the recommended option.
FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT
Option 1
One (A&C9) Project Manager for 6 months 2004/5 (£47k + staffing costs)
One PM Contractor for 7 months (Inc VAT)
One Test Analysts for 7 Months (inc VAT)
One DBA for period 7 months (Inc VAT)
One service support assistant for 7 months (Inc VAT)
TOTAL
£32,900
£81,428
£54,285
£53,375
£27,139
£249,127
Option 2
One (A&C9) Project Manager for 6 months 2004/5 (£47k + staffing costs)
£32,900
Option 3
One (A&C9) Project Manager for 6 months 2004/5 (£47k + staffing costs)
Two PM Contractors, for 7 months (Inc VAT)
Two Test Analysts for 7 Months (Inc VAT)
One DBA for period 7 months (Inc VAT)
One service support assistant for 7 months (Inc VAT)
One BA for 5 months (Inc VAT)
One BA for 2 months (Inc VAT)
TOTAL
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£32,900
£162,855
£108,570
£53,375
£27,139
£38,129
£13,391
£436,359
Option 4
One (A&C9) Project Manager for 6 months 2004/5 (£47k + staffing costs)
Two PM Contractors, for 4 months (Inc VAT)
Two Test Analysts for 4 Months (Inc VAT)
One DBA for 4 months (Inc VAT)
One service support assistant for 4 months (Inc VAT)
One BA for 2 months (Inc VAT)
TOTAL
£32,900
£93,060
£62,040
£30,500
£15,508
£13,391
£247,399
RISK ASSESSMENT
There is a risk that the business changes the priority of these projects which could lead to
over-resourcing.
This risk is mitigated by the fact that the Contractors have a one month notice period and the
overall resourcing situation would be managed and reviewed by the IT Programme manager
on a weekly basis.
RECOMMENDATION
The Board is asked to approve the provision of additional IT resource via contractors and
one additional full time Project Manager, all for a 4 month short term contract.
The Board is also asked to approve the associated expenditure of £247,399 (including VAT)
which will be funded from the actual and projected underspend in other areas of the NHS 24
budget.
GRAHAM DIXON
DIRECTOR OF IT
KEITH MACDONALD
IT PROGRAMME MANAGER
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