NHS Scotland awards £300 million IT services contract to Atos Origin Alliance

21 November 2006

London, UK. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) has awarded a £300 million contract to the Atos Origin Alliance to provide NHSScotland with end-to-end delivery of its principal IT services for the next 11 years.

The Atos Origin Alliance, comprising Atos Origin, BT, IBM and Sopra Newell & Budge, is a unique partnership created to provide NHSScotland with the strongest team possible to support the Scottish Health Service of the future. The Alliance has the capability to fulfil a wide spectrum of NHS requirements and the capacity to resource complex large-scale IT projects.

The contract was signed by the Minister for Health and Community Care, Andy Kerr, who also opened Atos Origin’s new Data Centre in Livingston, which will provide a stable and highly secure environment which will house NHSScotland’s vital patient data.

The new Atos Origin world-class 17,000 sq ft Data Centre represents a £7m investment and has the capacity and capability to provide NHSScotland with a solid platform from which to run its critical clinical applications such as the Emergency Care Summary, an electronic summary of basic information about a patient which may be needed in an emergency.

Mr. Kerr, Minister for Health and Community Care said “Currently, most health information is stored on paper files that are kept in different places. The services provided in this contract will help prepare the health service for the future and ensure that patient records are stored in a secure electronic environment.”

He added, “The Data Centre will enable secure access to patient information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and add a new dimension to the healthcare that can be provided to patients. For example, if someone requires emergency treatment out with their health board area, clinicians will be able to quickly find out if the patient is on any medication or has suffered an adverse reaction to any medication in the past. This magnificent facility will enable the safe and reliable sharing of information across the NHS in Scotland and will provide the basis for a truly integrated health service.”

Professor Stuart Bain, Chief Executive of NHS National Services Scotland said “The IT services supplied under this contract will help provide NHSScotland with the information it needs to deliver effective healthcare, and the technology needed to deliver that information to the right person at the right time”. He added, “This contract demonstrates NHSScotland’s commitment to achieving best value for the delivery of its services”.

Steve Langmead, General Manager of the Atos Origin Alliance, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as NHSScotland’s IT partner for the next 11 years. Working in partnership with NHSScotland, we will deliver world-class innovative and effective solutions with the ultimate aim of improving patient care for the people of Scotland.”

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