Department of Health signs £74m deal for desktop services

The Department of Health has released details of a major desktop services deal worth £74m over the next five years.

IT services company Atos won the deal and aims to provide an integrated, shared service, desktop solution for the Department of Health and some of its Arms Length Bodies, such as the Care Quality Commission.

A Department of Health spokesperson indicated that the deal with Atos will deliver about 40 per cent of savings across the life of the contract.

Atos said its solution will comply with the requirements of the Government IT Strategy, which looks to increase use of SMEs and open source as well as reduce costs.

"Our new solution makes the government's ICT strategy, sustainability and open source initiatives a reality," said Wayne Gibson, senior vice president, government and health at Atos.

"We will work with SMEs and use open-source software to deliver a service that offers value for money," he added.

The Department of Health's most recent business plan, released in July 2011 and valid until 2015, revealed that the department spends £1,194.73 on desktops per annum, per employee.