'Millennium bug' threat to health

The 'millennium bug' could cause computers to crash

More than a third of NHS trusts, hospitals and doctors' surgeries have not invested any money in tackling the so-called millennium bug, according to a survey.

Preliminary findings of a poll of more than 1,000 health service organisations show that, so far, they have spent an average of just £15,000 each on dealing with the problem.

Some 36% of those interviewed had not spent anything at all.

Software company Prove It 2000, who commissioned the survey, says it is too late to fix the bug problem by the deadline and warns that patients could be put at risk.

The problem has arisen because computers have always stored dates using the last two digits, to save space.

This could mean that computers fail to recognise the change in year from 1999 to the year 2000.

It is feared vital equipment, including life-support machines, could shut down unless the problem is solved.

But a spokesman for the Department of Health said all trusts and health authorities have surveyed their equipment to determine what will be affected.

A more comprehensive picture of the health sector's ability to cope will be available when those surveys are published later in May.

"The NHS is on target and there will be a lot more done over the coming months as plans start to accelerate," the spokesman said.