NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) have jointly launched a new Tech Devices – Link 4 procurement framework.
NHS SBS said the framework is set to run for three years, is valued at up to £1.5 billion and provides a streamlined procurement route for essential devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets and healthcare-specific equipment such as medical workstations and clinical diagnostic monitors.
It comprises four lots: tech devices, peripherals and associated services; specialist healthcare related IT hardware; printing and scanning devices; and refurnished and manufactured devices. Services for sustainable IT, deployment and support are included in each lot.
The framework has been endorsed by NHS England for use by trusts and is also available to the wider public sector.
It has been set up in response to a trend in which legacy equipment such as desktops, laptops and mobile devices struggle to run advanced software such as electronic patient record (EPR) systems.
Morale and innovation
Adele Guettat, category manager technology at NOE CPC, said: “Outdated IT hardware and technology affects team morale, slows innovation and hampers patient care. Investing in advanced IT equipment, therefore, is key to improving productivity and care.
“Without modern devices, NHS trusts cannot upgrade systems like EPR. Community nurses lose valuable time on administrative tasks instead of patient visits.
“Legacy systems lack robust cybersecurity measures, leaving sensitive patient data vulnerable to breaches. Adoption of advanced technologies - like artificial intelligence, are hampered stifling opportunities for innovation and patient care.”
Sakir Mahmud, principal category manager for digital and IT at NHS SBS, commented: “The NHS’s vision of a streamlined, inclusive digital health service depends on a robust IT infrastructure. Modernising IT equipment is vital to overcoming challenges, enabling innovation, and ensuring healthcare professionals can prioritise patient care.”
