Torex in shape for NHS deals

Healthcare systems integrator grows by acquisition in battle for IT contracts

Healthcare systems integrator Torex is growing through acquisition, as it shapes up to battle for lucrative IT contracts in the NHS.

The firm has announced plans to acquire operating theatre software from rival vendor Civica.

The move comes hot on the heels of a proposed merger with iSoft, another software healthcare specialist. Torex will pay £1.4m for the operating theatre and anaesthesia systems business of Civica.

NHS IT boss Richard Grainger is expected to reveal the shortlisted bidders for the prestigious integrated care record service, which Torex hopes to land very soon.

Steve Garrington, chief executive of Torex Health, said: "Whereas in the past the NHS was happy to deal with all sizes of suppliers, scale is going to be important in the new arena."

Torex is also in advanced discussions with iSoft about a merger. The combined firm would have revenues of more than £700m.

But market watchers have warned that integrating the various parts of the business could be difficult.

"We worry that, when the dust settles, integrating iSoft and Torex, let alone all of Torex's acquisitions, will be no easy task," said Tola Sargeant, analyst at Ovum Holway.

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