9.19 IM&T and equipment schemes are as susceptible to good management as any other procurement and PRINCE is the recommended methodology. Nonetheless, including IM&T and equipment within a larger project at any stage gives rise to greater complexities for project management. NHS bodies should explicitly address this and will almost certainly need to incorporate specialist IM&T and equipment skills into the project management arrangements. This should include the additional skills necessary to evaluate the IM&T and equipment element of bids including an assessment of proposals for whole life maintenance.
9.20 For both equipment and IM&T, the NHS body will need to have undertaken a detailed analysis of its requirements before any procurement commences. This will need to include user consultation and consideration of process redesign. The output specifications for the scheme should clearly reflect the NHS body's IM&T and equipment requirements.
9.21 If either the IM&T or equipment is to be procured separately, then the NHS body should also address what project management arrangements will be required to ensure that any IM&T and equipment required will be procured, commissioned and available in time for the commencement of services in the new facilities. NHS bodies should strongly consider whether a separate IM&T project manager is required.
9.22 The accounting treatment of the IM&T and equipment should also be considered from an early stage in the development of a scheme. Although with the introduction of IFRS this may become less of an issue. Advice should be sought from the NHS Body's financial advisers, auditors and SGHD.