Manchester VAR ANS Group has won a lucrative contract to supply the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust with a virtual desktop solution.

The software will serve up to 2,000 users, and will allow medical staff to access patient record securely and efficiently at their desktop and at the bedside.

ANS will install its in-house developed SmartiD authentication product, combined with Quest vWorkspace provided by the Desktop Virtualisation Group. The deployment will also help the Trust with cost savings and improved security practices, ANS claims.

Martin Bradburn, technical director at ANS Group, said: “ANS Group has a great record of innovation when it comes to using technology to solve problems and we are very proud and excited about the potential for this solution.

“Implementation across the NHS would have significant benefits for medical services in the UK, and we look forward to working with Sheffield and other NHS trusts to roll this out."

Russell Banks, head of IT at the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This been high on the Trust's desirable developments list for some time and could dramatically transform current patient record systems. The solution will allow medical and nursing staff to increase the time they spend on patient care, giving patients more of the individual attention they require, by reducing the need to log in and out of numerous systems.

“Other benefits include the reduction of the endless administrative paper trail, freeing up revenue which can now be invested into other areas of improving patient care."