TPP awarded Sussex Community NHS EPR contract extension
- 13 August 2024
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a 10-year contract extension for an electronic patient record system from TPP
- The contract is worth £6.3 million and will run until July 2034
- It follows reported racist remarks from TPP's founder and CEO Frank Hester towards Diane Abbott which came to light in March 2024
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a 10-year contract extension for an electronic patient record system from TPP, worth almost £6.3 million.
The contract is described as a “collaboration” between Sussex Community alongside East Sussex Healthcare, Surrey and Borders Partnership, and Sussex Partnership, HTN reports.
The procurement process for the EPR contract extension concluded in October 2023. TPP will be supplying the EPR for Sussex Community for a further 10 years until July 2034.
The awarding of the EPR contract extension to TPP comes after it became public knowledge in March 2024 that its founder and CEO Frank Hester had reportedly made racist remarks inciting violence against the UK’s longest-serving black MP Diane Abbott.
A joint statement from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and East Sussex Healthcare Trust said: “TPP provide our community electronic patient record system and, as part of a joint procurement process which concluded with a pre-award in October 2023, we agreed a contract extension.
“Our trusts have a diverse workforce and we deeply value the contribution of all of our staff from across a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. As such, we have sought assurance from TPP regarding their equality, diversity and inclusion policies.”
At Digital Health Rewired 2024, an open letter was launched condemning racism and discrimination and pledging commitment to develop an ‘equity charter’ for the digital health industry.
A subsequent online event took place on 2 July 2024 to discuss the creation of an equity charter for people working in digital health, followed by an Equity Charter Summit in London on 23 July 2024, which brought together key stakeholders to build a set of actions to accompany the charter.
Dr Shera Chok, founder and chair of the Shuri Network, which champions diversity and supports the careers of BAME women in digital health, said: “In the last week we’ve heard NHS and political leaders talk about being anti-racist.
“On 5 August Amanda Pritchard (NHS chief executive) said: ‘And specifically, show in your actions that when we say we have zero tolerance of racism towards our patients or colleagues, in whatever form it takes, we really mean it – even when it is difficult or uncomfortable’.
“The digital and healthcare community therefore needs to reflect on what this means for every one of us and what messages we’re sending to our staff, service users and partners about our values and culture.
“Where do we draw the line? And are organisations and digital leaders prepared to do more than talk about being anti-racist?”
Digital Health News approached TPP for comment, but no response was recieved by time of publication.
