Department of Health signs IT service deal

The Department of Health (DoH) has sealed a deal with IT service provider Atos for £74 million.

It is believed that the company will deliver around 10,000 desktops and will offer additional services such as customer support, network advice, collaboration tools as well as a new datacentre infrastructure.

As part of the five-year contract Atos will allow the DoH to maximise its IT capability which will extend to the organisation's Arms Length Bodies.

Currently Atos holds interest in 42 different countries and claims to offer clients in-depth market expertise within the sector and believes that the new deal with the DoH will push the organisation into the 21st century and will benefit patients for years to come.

A spokesperson for the DoH said: "The procurement was conducted against the ASCC framework using an in-house team and has delivered a flexible contract that will result in savings of around 40 per cent on the current cost of service across the life of the contract."