NHS suppliers in queue

IT firms register to supply the NHS as part of £5bn infrastructure overhaul

Almost 100 IT firms have registered to supply the NHS as part of the planned £5bn overhaul of its IT infrastructure.

Technology suppliers were given 37 days from the end of January to register an interest in bidding for NHS contracts.

David Cheesman, director of special projects and operations at healthcare reseller WCI, said the company has put its name forward in a number of areas.

He said that smaller specialist companies should operate alongside big global players such as IBM and KPMG.

"We are trying to be part of a consortium as well as looking at being a major supplier and second-tier supplier to others," Cheesman said.

Richard Granger, director general of NHS IT, confirmed that suppliers of any size will have a role to play, and that specialisation is as important as size.

"The calibre of organisations responding provides a strong foundation for the NHS IT Programme," he said.

A list of applicants will be finalised by the end of this month, a short list will be drawn up in July and the first contracts awarded in October.