Leading corporate services provider NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) have partnered to launch a new framework agreement aimed at modernising outdated NHS hardware.
This initiative addresses the critical need for upgrading essential end-user devices, ensuring compatibility with the latest operating systems and software.
The framework agreement, endorsed by NHS England, streamlines procurement processes, allowing NHS trusts and the wider public sector, including education trusts, universities, and local authorities, to purchase the latest hardware quickly and compliantly from vetted suppliers. This approach leverages the buying power of the NHS to benefit a broader range of public sector organisations.
Principal Category Manager for Digital and IT at NHS SBS, Sakir Mahmud, 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.”
Legacy technology systems in the NHS often fail to meet the demands of modern healthcare, disrupting workflows and limiting innovation. The Darzi Review highlighted several critical issues, including growing waiting lists, declining public health, and the urgent need for digital transformation. The government's forthcoming 10-year plan will emphasize the transition from analogue to digital as a key priority for the NHS.
Obsolete desktops, laptops, and mobile devices struggle to run advanced software like Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems, hindering progress and preventing effective upgrades. This impacts healthcare professionals, causing delays due to malfunctioning equipment, and administrative staff, who face inefficiencies in managing critical information.
The Tech Devices – Link 4 framework agreement includes four categories covering essential devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and healthcare-specific equipment like medical workstations and clinical diagnostic monitors. To support sustainability, the framework also offers refurbished and remanufactured devices, providing high-performance, cost-effective solutions that align with the NHS’s net-zero ambitions.
This new framework agreement represents a significant step towards modernising NHS hardware, improving efficiency, and supporting the digital transformation of healthcare services.
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