EHI’s industry round-up 01.04.10

This month’s industry round-up includes an MP’s visit to a telecare service alongside news of contract wins and extensions, new product launches and significant company developments.

ISoft wins extension to NHS Shared Business Services deal

NHS Shared Business Services has extended its contract for iSoft Business Solutions to host its Oracle finance and purchasing applications by an additional two years. This latest contract, worth £6m, extends the original agreement to 2016. It also expands the services offered and includes new HP hardware and infrastructure and a move to Oracle Release 12. The contract is for services only and excludes licenses. NHS SBS provides services for 30% of all NHS organisations.

NHS Barnet picks SMART

The first bank management system contract awarded under the new London Procurement Project Framework has been awarded to SMART by NHS Barnet. The contract is for SMART’s Bank Administration, which will be delivered as a hosted software solution. It will be linked to the primary care trust’s Electronic Staff Record and cover 800 employees. The LLP framework agreement provides an agreed shortlist of providers suitable for NHS trusts, all of whom have undergone a rigorous assessment process by the LPP.

Barking and Dagenham selects SMART/HMT e rostering system

Barking and Dagenham Community Health Services has selected HMT’s e rostering system. The trust is using HMT’s RosterPro Central to manage shift working on three wards, with a view to rolling it out across its rapid response teams and all clinical staff. RosterPro Central replaces a manual system, and the trust expects significant savings from reducing the use of agency services as well as improved governance of the European working time directive and other legal requirements. HMT was acquired by SMART in December 2009.

TRIP database looks for evidence for developing world

The TRIP database, a search engine created to help clinicians find high quality evidence to inform their practice, is encouraging users to flag content suitable for people working in settings with few resources. With support from the Bupa Giving Scheme, the database is asking registered users to click a link marked ‘developing world?’ If two users agree the information would be suitable, it will be added to a sub-set of data in TRIP. More information on the TRIP blog.

SNOMED CT browsing on the iPhone

Brighton-based tech company Dataline Software has announced the first SNOMED App for the iPhone. The application, called Snomobile, is available from iTunes. It is a SNOMED CT browser that can help healthcare professionals find and organise SNOMED CT, SNOMED RT and CTV3 codes, and includes fast-find and history features. Dataline also developed the web-based sister product Snoflake.

Easier access to Map of Medicine

Clinicians can now access Map of Medicine pathways without having to remember a username and password. Login-free access to England and Wales national pathways is available through NHS Evidence search results. The Map provides clinicians with best practice pathways that incorporate evidence-based information, expert knowledge and national policy; and more than 50 health communities are now using it. Direct access to Map of Medicine is available via its own website or from

MP sees benefits of Tunstall telecare

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat health spokesman and MP for North Norfolk, visited a telecare user in Cromer to see Tunstall’s technology deployed by Norfolk County Council. The council estimates that telecare saves it £11,152 per service user, since without it many people would be directed to residential or nursing care. Tunstall says the council’s integration of telecare into its mainstream services has been a key element in its success.

LAN2LAN introduces Congrego

Surrey-based systems integrator LAN2LAN has launched Conegro; a social networking approach to providing government workers with support after a traumatic experience, such as a terrorist incident or long-term illness. The idea was first tried after the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005 and is now being trialled by a number of County Councils. LAN2LAN argues the solution, which is based in secure IBM collaborative software, could also be used by NHS trusts to provide staff with communication and collaboration services and patients with support.

Imaging Partners Online gains ISO 27001 accreditation

Remote radiology provider Imaging Partners Online has completed a lengthy assessment to be awarded ISO 27001 accreditation, which demonstrates a robust framework for the management of patient identifiable data. IPO works for ten UK trusts and healthcare providers. Its radiologists work from a purpose-built site in Richmond, Surrey, which is able to connect to hospital radiology systems anywhere in the UK. Darryl Maytom, UK managing director, said: “NHS trusts and healthcare providers need to be certain that anything they outsource is in safe hands. With IPO, they get that reliability and our ISO 27001 accreditation, and IGSoC approval, reaffirms that.”

21C announces commercial alliance with Silverbear

21C has announced a formal commercial alliance with Silverbear, a Microsoft customer relationship management and software solutions company. Paul Henderson, 21C’s chief executive said: “Our solutions enable customers to harvest knowledge from automated processes using SharePoint and deliver integrated information using SQL and Office. CRM offers customers the opportunity to take this knowledge and turn it into a broader range of actions. ”

Voice Technologies wins in Philips Partner Awards

Voice Technologies has been recognised for the third year in a row by the Philips’ Partner Awards, winning the MDCI Partner Recognition Award this year. Alistair Graham, sales and technical director of Voice Technologies, said: “The external recognition of our services [is a] testament to the quality we strive to offer.”