Information systems must be developed if health authorities and primary care groups are to adopt integrated care pathways in commissioning, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has argued.

In a booklet, ACCA says care pathways offer the chance to improve efficiency but that significant gains won't be made until a large volume of healthcare is commissioned this way. In the US, hospitals and health maintenance organisations have developed care pathways for about 40 per cent of care.

The booklet says 'it is not likely' this will be achieved in the NHS 'for several years. '

ACCA spokesperson Tom Jones said: 'There is a lot of work going on on care pathways, but you need to get the IT sorted out. '

New Commissioning: applying integrated care pathways. ACCA, 29 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3EE. Free.