Four BT Cerner deployments for South

Tags: A BT Cerner Community England Fujitsu Government iS Mental Health Millennium RiO South Treasury

24 Apr 2009

BT is to deploy Cerner Millennium to a further four acute sites in the South of England as part of its deal to take over the eight sites already live with the system.

In response to a written question from Conservative health spokesman Stephen O’Brien, health minister Ben Bradshaw said the company would also be deploying RiO 25 mental and community health sites.

The government confirmed earlier this month that BT was to take over the eight acute sites that went live with Millennium before the South’s former local service provider, Fujitsu, parted company with the National Programme for IT in the NHS last May.

Bradshaw said this week: “Contract change notices reflecting the appointment of BT as the preferred supplier to the existing eight live Cerner sites in the South, plus a commitment to additional deployments to four further Cerner acute sites, and 25 RiO mental health and community sites, have been signed with the company.”

The minister declined to give the value of the CCNs, arguing that it would “potentially compromise the Department’s position in any future procurement for further services in the South” and so was not the Department or the taxpayer’s interest.

However, he revealed that almost £100m had been paid to BT as “working capital” to “aid with infrastructure, planning and development work in advance of the deployment of systems and services.”

He said the £92.8m plus VAT agreed was “in line with Treasury rules and in return for a reduction in payments to be earned for future successful delivery.” He also said BT had been paid £183,000 excluding VAT for supporting the ‘live eight’ sites after Fujitsu pulled out.

Link: Bradshaw’s written answer

Lyn Whitfield

Readers Comments

'curiouser and curiouser' said Alice

24 Apr 09 10:59

Where are these mysterious deployments? and Why are BT not tumpeting this from the rooftops?

New Conservatory

24 Apr 09 12:08

So anyway I was talking to this bloke who knocked on the door about a new conservatory. He said if I give him 10 large as working capital he would knock it off the eventual bill if he happened to be successful at putting it up. I said no, mainly because the sign on his van said he was a plumber.

I am wondering now whether to ring him up and accept his generous terms?

Advice and comments gratefully accepted

Any more while we're at it?

24 Apr 09 12:45

Does anyone else perceive a rush to sign off contracts before the austerity measures start? After all spending money on IT systems (which may or may not be delivered) has to be the NHS priority in the tough years to come.

New Conservatory

24 Apr 09 17:12

Only 10 yr tight wad.

Just because it said he was a plumber does not mean his glass buildings won't be good, after all he is the LSP (Local Service Plumber) of choice.

Give him more up front and get loads of floor walkers at go live to catch all the drips when it rains (by the way this be be an ongoing service).

Then when every one see what a success he has been plumbing your conservatory he will get load more to do!

BT has South over a barrel

24 Apr 09 18:41

Conversation goes something like

NHS: er - BT - how would you like to take over four very successful cerner sites nnow that we have kiecked out Fujitsu

BT: What - are you having a laugh - we're already losing money hands over fists with Cerner in London

NHS: oh dear - what are we going to do - nobody will take these 'live' sites on, what are we to do.

BT: well - I suppose if you throw in 20 odd mental health sites - we might be able to do something - but it won't be cheap

NHS: oh would you - really - where do I sign - oh and by the way - lets keep htis quiet as not all the sites know that they have to take RIO - but we will deal with that later - and lets not talk abouyt how much because that's the last of the money gone, what with all that litigation and stuff. Acute Trusts and PCTs will have to find their own cash to get 'strategic systems'.

Of course this is all made up - it couldn't really be like this could it ..

Re: Over a barrel

27 Apr 09 11:25

I doubt if the negotiations go into that much depth!

;-)

Were Big!

01 May 09 16:35

The original decision was more like…

NHS: “Hi is that BT?

BT: “Yes”

NHS: ”We need someone BIG to take the responsibility for knowing what the NHS needs by way of Operational and Clinical systems”

BT: “We’re a telephone company”

NHS: “Are you Big?”

BT: ”…Pardon”

NHS: “We only want to deal with BIG”

BT: “Of course were Big”

NHS: “Then the Contract’s yours”

BT: “ But we’re a telephone company !”

NHS: “It’s worth at least £12Billion”

BT: “ No Problem"