Accident records database breaks down

IT problems have delayed updates to the government's database of accidents that happen within the home.

The Home Accident Surveillance System (Hass), operated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), records the number of injuries caused by accidents in the home.

While the statistics are often used as a source of stories about the number of people injured in bizarre sock-related accidents and other oddities, the system was intended to find out why people attend hospital Accident and Emergency departments.

But the last three years' worth of data have not been added to the database because of IT problems.

In a response to a written parliamentary question, junior DTI minister Gerry Sutcliffe confirmed: "The value of the database should be enhanced by the inclusion of the last three years' data which has been delayed by IT problems."

It is hoped that the data will be available for publication later this year.

A spokesman for the DTI admitted there had been "a pretty large problem" with the computer systems.

In 1999 a group led by IT services firm Fujitsu Services, along with consulting business CMG, took control of the systems in an outsourcing deal worth £200m.

Fujitsu Services declined to comment, saying that its contract with the DTI prohibited it from responding directly.

The DTI has decided to abolish the Hass system, after a strategic review concluded that the money would be better spent elsewhere.