The scope of the problem covers information technology like computers, medical equipment and devices, estates, plant and machinery in buildings, telephone and pager systems, lifts, operating theatres, air conditioners and the supply chain. It is necessary to consider the ability of the suppliers of critical or perishable goods to maintain continuity of supply over the millennium period, i.e. that their systems are year 2000 compliant. A great deal of work has been done on that and various special interest groups were set up in relation to information technology, medical devices, estates, laboratory equipment, small agencies, the supply chain, business continuity and planning.
The guidelines set out and the methodology used to approach this problem recommended the risk management approach, which involved categorising systems and items of equipment into various categories of risk, ranging from life threatening to minimal. In this way, the effort can be directed to the highest risk areas first. All those critical issues have been dealt with. We are now dealing with the question of ensuring continuity of supply over the period and contingency planning for the expected increased demand in accident and emergency services, etc. The technical issues regarding Y2K compliance of equipment have been dealt with and we are now dealing with the logistics of average coverage, etc.