 iSoft's shares have slumped over 50% since January |
Shares in UK software firm iSoft have slumped after US consultancy Accenture blamed it for delays in a �2bn plan to upgrade NHS computer systems. Its shares fell 16% on London markets after Accenture said cost overruns would see it lose money on the deal.
The shares have fallen more than 50% since January when iSoft warned that delays would cut its profits by �45m.
The 10-year NHS project aims to give 50 million patients an electronic record and link 30,000 GPs with 270 hospitals.
Increased costs
iSoft's Lorenzo case record software is a key part of the contract, and the company is working with Accenture, which is responsible for delivering and supporting NHS computer systems in the eastern and north-eastern regions of England.
On Tuesday, Accenture said that iSoft was partly to blame for delays in fulfilling the contract, and said that increased development and integration costs would see overall costs exceed revenues by about $450m.
iSoft said it could not tell what impact the delays would have on its own finances until Accenture had rescheduled the project.
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