End User Device Hardware as a Service

Intention of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to commission a supplier to outsource the Trust IT end user devices (Laptops and Desktops, with an option for tablets).

The IT Strategy for the Trust focuses on the needs of the end-users, ensuring that IT support our staff in providing the best possible patient care. In addition, there is a requirement to meet the local and national strategies and drivers, along with consideration of how current and future technology could be used to benefit the organisation.

In May 2018, NHS Digital announced that a new NHS agreement had been signed with Microsoft for Windows 10 licencing following the WannaCry cyber attack in 2017. Over the next two years there are substantial changes within Microsoft’s licencing whereby the Trust will need to upgrade a significant proportion of the end user and back end infrastructure.

The Trusts end user devices currently run Windows 7 and Office 2010 which go end of life in October 2020. These licencing changes will result in the Trust needing to upgrade the end user devices to Windows 10 and Office 2019.

If the Trust do not upgrade the licencing described above, there is a risk that Microsoft will no longer support the existing estate which will put the Trust at risk of increased cyber attack due to software patches becoming unavailable.

However, with increasing pressure on finances, coupled with the need improve the Trust’s IT estate in preparation for Windows 10 and the increased need for devices to support the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) programme the Trust is looking at options to outsource its IT end-user device infrastructure within the Trust.

The Trust will be running a supplier engagement seminar on 24/07/19 between 10am - 12pm in the Maidstone Hospital Auditorium ME16 9QQ. Please email Richard.cardy@nhs.net if you wish to attend.