Police and others lag on Y2K plans

By Adam Gifford

Only six of 61 high impact government agencies and department failed to meet the State Services Commission's Y2K readiness target for its July 31 survey.

They include the Police, the Ministry of Health, Health Funding Authority and Health Benefits Limited.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ranked lowest, at 3.6 on a scale of 5, and Capital Coast Health was second from bottom at 3.7.

Waitemata Health just scraped over the SSC's target indicator of 3.9 on a scale of 5.

The SSC will conduct a fourth survey on October 15.

Waitemata Health chief executive Dwayne Crombie said his organisation's readiness had improved substantially on the previous survey, but it had been knocked back on documentation.

"They weren't happy to accept our in-house legal opinion, so we've had to spend money getting outside lawyers to tell us what we already know," Dr Crombie said.

"I don't want to put down (the SSC) process, but it's a lot about how you present yourself."

He said a lot of the focus was now on contingency planning rather than fixing systems.

Waitemata Health is working closely with Auckland Healthcare and South Auckland Health, both of which rated well in the SSC survey, to ensure there is a region-wide response to any problems.

John Belgrave, the director of the SSC's Y2K project office, said Waitemata Health had not documented a number of its procedures.

"There were a number of things they said were happening, but we wanted attested documentation so they are paying more attention to that."

He said forcing all government agencies to get independent assessments has focussed their minds.

"We have also gone to talk to individual chief executives. Since the government said it would publish these progress reports warts and all, they have rolled their sleeves up."

He said all agencies have improved significantly since the first assessment in February.

"At first they wanted to shoot the messenger, but they then realised they had to get on with it," Mr Belgrave said.

The Police are also shrugging off their 56th equal ranking in the latest survey.

Deputy commissioner Rob Robinson said mission critical systems including the 111 emergency response systems have been tested and are Y2K compliant.

"Further progress since 31 July indicates Police will be ready for Y2K," Mr Robinson said.

Police leave has been cancelled between December 30 and January 4, and many non-sworn staff will also be working.

Mr Belgrave said the October 15 survey will confirm if progress has been made.

Mr Belgrave's report said changes to the way the Ministry of Health was carrying out its Y2K projects should give benefits but "has introduced a risk deadlines may slip".

The Health Funding Agency is not due to complete testing core systems until November 24, and some slippage in project dates has already occurred.

In the case of Health Benefits Ltd, business continuity plans are still being developed and "the assessor rated all items in the section on risk management as 'barely satisfactory'."

Mr Belgrave said one of the reasons MAF was behind other agencies was its reorganisation, and there is little room for slippage and a risk the amount of work still to be done has been underestimated.