Read the fine print

Buried away in the lower lefthand corner of page 4 of the Financial Times today is an article entitled "Security fear over GP's booking system" (online version is here). Apparently the British Medical Association is expressing to its 30,000 GP members that it has a very low level of confidence in the security of the online appointment booking system, part of the NHS IT transformation program being overseen by BT. This is yet another bearish piece of news about this project, following on from last month's cost overrun bombshell, and it just further underlines the significant reputational issues likely to be encountered by telcos if they dare to tread into such highly emotive and politicized territory.