This is a challenging era for Healthcare executives around the globe and particularly in the NHS. Dell Services has worked with the NHS since 2003 and we strongly believe that, although technology has the potential to increase efficiency and improve clinical outcomes, it is the way solutions are implemented and managed that will release technology-enabled value.

Where clinical software implementation is concerned, our methodologies systematically ensure that clinical adoption is improved and both clinical benefits and cost benefits are realised. In the UK our clinically led teams are supporting the NHS through:

• Realising clinical and efficiency benefits through enhanced use of technology
• Providing an alternative solution to the existing suppliers in the National Programme for IT
• Supporting NHS organisations to develop plans and business cases to support major change programmes
• Delivering implementation and change expertise within the National Programme for IT
• Working with NHS organisations to build their capability to deliver major system implementations

With the expected future budgetary pressures in the NHS, executives are examining ways to improve processes whilst operating within very tight financial and operational constraints. The time is right to look at IT costs and investment in IT as a mechanism to address the challenges - it is possible to improve efficiency, improve IT operations, reduce costs and release capital if the IT estate is examined as a whole.

Dell Services has experience of delivering significant cost savings to healthcare providers in the United States.

Our current experience in the NHS

Dell Services is not a newcomer to the NHS. Over 200 staff have been working with Acute and Mental Health & Community Trusts in London and elsewhere to implement NPfIT solutions, and we continue to support delivery to St George’s, Kingston and Imperial Trusts as well as 26 RiO implementation projects. Since 2003 we have;

• Successfully implemented RiO in over 25 PCTs and Mental Health Trusts in London
• Supported the implementation of NPfIT solutions in 4 Acute Trusts in London, with a further 3 projects still underway
• Project managed the implementations of PACS at 21 Acute Trusts across London
• Commenced a clinically led implementation of clinical systems at Rotherham NHS Trust including a clinical adoption and benefits programme

Deriving efficiency from technology for the NHS

Dr Paul Whatling, Director of Consulting, International Healthcare for Perot Systems, stresses that even cutting-edge technology will fail without the support of the people who use it.

‘People can see how effective use of technology will help them to better serve their patients. They love the idea of having better information systems in health, but can be cynical about their short-term value. Those who sell IT systems often say that their software will work straight from the box. In reality, systems need to be tailored to suit the needs of the people who will use them. In the case of the NHS, there needs to be some standardization so that patient information systems are integrated across the country.’ Dr Paul Whatling

In order to derive efficiency from technology in the NHS Dell Services provides:

• Support to Trusts in achieving successful go-lives through effective technical expertise, programme and project management
• Application of experienced healthcare informatics skills in areas such as data migration, data cleansing & data warehousing
• Provision of Clinical Adoption and Transformational support
• Technical Implementation support including integration, configuration, testing, training and managerial oversight
• Infrastructure and deployment experts in mental & community health and acute systems
• Expertise in back office technical implementation and associated business process optimisation for administrative functions
• Infrastructure assessment support and ongoing managed services
• Provision of solution healthcheck and optimisation services to help trusts maximise the potential of their systems
• Operational Readiness assessment service providing trust assurance in preparation for system go-live
• Expertise working with the healthcare organisations in the development and implementation of a strategic roadmap for ICT