DH extend outsourcing contract with CSC

The Department of Health have agreed a £20m deal with Computer Sciences Corporation to extend their information technology outsourcing contract for an additional two years until 2011.

The DH first awarded a seven year £39m contract to CSC for the outsourcing of infrastructure and application support services for around 4500 DH staff in 2002 .

CSC provide the DH with services to improve remote and offsite working and communication between the NHS and its partners.

The DH’s CIO, Beverley Bryant, said: “Information services in the Department of Health has changed significantly over the last two years. Our ethos is all about customer focus and CSC has worked hard with us to present a common brand and a seamless service to our customers. They have worked hard to ensure that their agenda is aligned to match the changing needs of the department.”

CSC’S European president, Guy Hains said: “CSC is pleased to be extending this relationship and building on our success at delivering new and improved IT services to the Department of Health. This includes working with a number of the Arms Lengths Bodies such as the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Information Centre.”

Hains added: “Our new agreement underscores CSC’s global healthcare experience and ability to deliver significant results to our clients.”

CSC, which is also the local service provider for the North-west and West Midlands, Eastern and North-east clusters for the NHS IT programme, told EHI it was committed to providing the DH with outsourced services including telephony, videoconferencing, desktop and help desk support and is excited to be expanding further into the healthcare sector.