NHS work boosts Atos Origin

International IT services company Atos Origin has reported strong UK financial results for the first six months of the year, partly boosted by NHS work.

The company, which is responsible for the Choose and Book electronic appointment system, reported revenues up to £376m for the first half of the year.

In England, Atos Origin has been appointed to the additional services capacity and capability (ASCC) framework contracts.

And it was recently one of six bidders shortlisted for the £80m NHS Choices project, although Capita has since been named as preferred supplier.

From NHS Scotland, Atos Origin won an additional contract worth over £40m to provide services including a central finance management solution, the deployment of a multi-government agency data sharing service and the rollout of a Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) immunisation programme.

The results follow a difficult 2007 for Atos Origin in the UK health sector. Last July, the company was removed by the Department of Health from a £257m diagnostics services contract for the North West and South East of England. The contract was suspended and then pulled following concerns about quality and administrative procedures.

“These results indicate that Atos Origin in the UK has returned to growth,” said Keith Wilman, UK CEO for Atos Origin. “Our decision to concentrate our efforts on key markets means that we are now ranked in the top five – in terms of revenue – in public sector, health and transport – three of our key markets.”