Benefits realisation from IT enabled innovation: A capability challenge for NHS English Acute Hospital Trusts?

Within the UK National Health Service (NHS) acute hospital trusts are relatively independent entities with their own boards of directors and governors. They are expected to develop business as well as information management and technology strategies that demonstrate commitment to efficiency of operation as well as effectiveness of patient treatment. Nevertheless they still receive funding from central government and in a period of fiscal austerity must deliver the government’s health agenda with fewer resources but through an increasing use of information technology (IT). Benefits realisation of IT and systems innovation is seen as the approach through which many of the reforms will be delivered. New systems such as nurse-rostering, bed management and patient flow are essential to a more efficient and effective NHS but significantly involve clinical staff in the delivery of any benefits from them. Ashurst and Hodges (2010) have argued that in order to deliver benefits from IT enabled innovations organisations must develop a benefits realisation capability that is multi-disciplinary and is not just situated within the IT function. This paper aims to explore the state of the benefits realisation capability within English NHS hospitals in order to assess whether this type of approach can work and deliver the substantial change needed to address the challenges of faced.