A new deal struck between Microsoft, NHSX and NHS Digital is expected to save the National Health Service nine-figure sums and give digital tools in Microsoft 365 to eligible organisations across England.
The agreement will guarantee significant financial savings for not just individual organisations run by the NHS, but the health service overall. The new initiative is also designed to bolster cyber security and enable greater collaboration.
The latest Microsoft tools helping healthcare staff
Part of the new agreement between the tech giant and the healthcare service will see Microsoft 365 made readily available to around 1.2 million employees working at NHS facilities, as well as for NHS organisations like Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), health informatic services and trusts to build a truly connected NHS. With access to all the services, data, and applications they require, personnel will be capable of communicating more effectively, thus reducing the pressure on admin staff and improving the safety of patients.
The agreement also secures open access to a range of Microsoft apps, adding to an existing deal initially announced in 2018 that allowed NHS organisations to utilise the Windows 10 operating systems to enhance their security measures.
The importance of staying up to date with innovation
Nurses, consultants, paramedics and doctors are among the personnel who will be able to access Microsoft 365 services, enabling them to use communication tools like Microsoft Teams. Teams has proved instrumental recently in keeping healthcare staff collaborating securely during the coronavirus outbreak via an array of different methods, including video and audio calls and instant messaging.
CEO for NHS Digital, Sarah Wilkinson, said:
“I’m delighted that we have been able to conclude these negotiations with Microsoft successfully. This deal will allow the NHS to derive productivity and collaboration benefits from the use of numerous Microsoft products and will strengthen cybersecurity across the system. I would also like to thank Microsoft for allowing NHS Digital to deploy numerous licences at no cost in recent months in response to the pandemic.”
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, announced the upcoming agreement and reinforced how crucial it was for the NHS to adopt the most advanced operating systems and digital tools:
“We have throughout the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He commented that having the latest technology available to the NHS allowed healthcare personnel to work even more efficiently and added that the new agreement with Microsoft would make this possible by providing a solid foundation.
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