LONDON (Reuters), Dec 15 - Lord Warner, the health minister closely involved in Prime Minister Tony Blair's troubled project to create a new database for Britain's health service will retire, the government has said.
Warner, who is 66, wants to spend more time with his family, Blair's spokesman said, dismissing suggestions he had quit because of glitches in the massive technology project.
Plans to create a new super computer for the National Health Service that would link doctors to hospitals and facilitate online booking have run into problems and costs have spiralled.
"His decision to retire has nothing to do with that at all," Blair's spokesman said.
The prime minister said Warner had been an "outstanding minister."
The government plans to appoint a successor early next year.
Last Updated: 2006-12-14 10:41:22 -0400 (Reuters Health)
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