A recent internal audit into the HSE’s information and communications technology (ICT) contracts library has found the Executive’s system to be “unsatisfactory”.
The audit from February this year, seen by the Medical Independent (MI), stated that the exact number of ICT contracts between the HSE and service providers was “unknown”.
According to the audit report: “The audit findings indicate that the level of assurance that may be provided to management about the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management and internal control system in the area reviewed is unsatisfactory.”
The report noted that the recording of contract information on a national basis had improved in recent years. However, there were legacy contracts, and contracts agreed at regional and local HSE level, that were not consistently captured centrally.
“As a result, at present, the exact number of all ICT-related contracts with service providers which the HSE have in place is currently unknown.”
The audit noted that the HSE’s procurement project management system should be the “single source of truth” recording all ICT contracts for the entire HSE.
However, a “significant discovery exercise will need to be undertaken in order to establish the true number of ICT-related contracts” in place.
A HSE spokesperson told MI “work is progressing to create a library of legacy contracts”.
“A library is established for national contracts utilising our existing projects management toolset,” the spokesperson said.
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