AS the Millennium Bug threatens to cause chaos in computers, Fylde Community Health Trust has revealed they have the problem well and truly in hand.

The Year 2000 bug affects all computer software that records the date in two rather than four digits, causing systems to fail as they can't differentiate between the years 1900 and 2000.

But NHS trust director of finance Stephen Smurthwaite has revealed that work is well underway to prevent problems in our hospitals.

He said: "We have found quite a few areas that need attention.

"Some of our computer systems were bought several years ago and would not work on the year 2000 deadline so they have been brought up to date.

"We had to acquire a new financial system as well which is going in place now.

"Our patient administration system which tracks all of our patients had problems which would not have let us access it in the Millennium.

"We haven't found any medical equipment that needs altering yet but we are still checking it all.

"In parallel, we have been making contingency plans in case we miss something.

"We are dependent on other organisations such as drug companies to supply us so we need an action plan in case their systems fail as well.

"But we are well on course to meet the NHS deadline of June 1999 for compliant systems."

The government-run Audit Commission recently released a report stating that most NHS trusts were behind schedule with their work.

Their main concerns include medical equipment malfunction, loss of access to the child protection register and emergency communication malfunctions.

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