Six new companies brought under NPfIT banner

Cisco, EMC Computer Systems, Hewlett Packard, SeeBeyond and Sun will supply a number of backup, infrastructure and migration services to the LSPs and various aspects of NPfIT (see below). All five, along with a sixth company, TATA Consulting Services, will supply hardware, software and support to NHS organisations or subcontractors through partner services. The agreements are not new contracts but formal price discount arrangements.

According to the NPfIT, local trusts will be able to access these new discounted agreements through their chief information officers. A formal understanding has been reached between NPfIT and the suppliers that NHS organisations including Strategic Health Authorities, Special Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, NHS Trusts, Mental Health and Foundation Trusts in England will have access to hardware, software and services at reduced rates.

A spokesperson for the NPfIT said: “Given its unparalleled size the National Programme is in a position to procure IT services from suppliers for the NHS on a greater scale and at a more competitive rate than any other single NHS organisation. The arrangements will obtain the best deals for the NHS and enable the highly cost-effective provision of infrastructure that will support the NHS by underpinning critical NHS IT systems."

However, NPfIT declined to comment about what level of discount or cost savings had been achieved by the new arrangement, citing commercial confidentiality: “The projected cost savings are confidential and the actual discount price offered cannot be disclosed."

Adrian McDonald, managing director of EMC UK & Ireland said of the deal: “EMC is proud to work with the NHS to provide an information infrastructure fit for the C21st. This relationship supports EMC’s commitment to the UK government’s National Programme for IT in the NHS."

Some links between the LSPs and the companies picked by the NPfIT are already well-established. BT and SeeBeyond signed a £16m deal in February for SeeBoard to supply the provide the core software for the transactional messaging service for the spine. BT is using SeeBeyond’s Integrated Composite Application Network (ICAN) Suite 5.0 to design, deliver and manage the national patient record database and transactional messaging service.

Negotiations between Microsoft and NPfIT for the provision of desk-top licences have been completed, although the deal is subject to Treasury approval. It is expected that NPfIT will announce details shortly.