Sign in / up

back to article NHS injects tender for PC and peripherals kit with £500m

The UK's NHS has a £500m budget to burn on PCs, printers and monitors in the latest mega framework tender to be dangled in front of ravenous tech suppliers. A ten lot agreement including desktops, lappies, tabs, peripherals, and warranties has been issued by the NHS Shared Business Services - the joint venture between DfH and …

COMMENTS

Post your comment
House rules Send corrections
Add to 'My topics' unstar *
  1. Wupspups

    New PCs with XP that is.

    Our local hospital and quacks are still running XP. On brand new boxes too.

    Wonder if that £500M is enough to buy some Micky Micro$oft support for a year or 2

    4 0 Reply
    1. Mr_Pitiful
      Reply Icon

      Re: New PCs with XP that is.

      From what I've seen, the new PC roll out is Windows 7 Pro, with a very restricted GP involved

      No-one can add or remove any software or even plug in a new mouse without IT involvement

      Local Admin doesn't even exist as far as I've seen

      £500 Million, would buy quite a lot of boxes, laptops & tablets

      So who's bidding?

      2 0 Reply
    2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      Re: New PCs with XP that is.

      "Our local hospital and quacks are still running XP. On brand new boxes too."

      Those brand new boxes came with a WIn7 license at the very least. So that's the local NHS using their site license to image the new kit with XP, probably because they've not rated or replaced all the required software for higher than XP yet and likely something essential won't run on 7 or 8. Blame their IT support, or more likely, their bean counters who probably refused to let them spend the money in time to be ready.

      0 0 Reply
  2. Dr_N

    Those "Clean Me!" keyboards that were introduced to combat a non-existent, tabloid created MRSA epidemic will probably eat into most of that budget.

    0 3 Reply
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      ....introduced to combat a non-existent, tabloid created MRSA epidemic

      With all due respect, bollocks. MRSA is real, and fairly horrendous for those suffering. Bad use of antibiotics has caused a million problems, most of which, if you're lucky, you'll never see as the NHS works hard as hell to keep things under control, But of course, you know better, it's all tabloid shite. Of course.

      4 0 Reply
      1. Dr_N
        Reply Icon

        Re: ....introduced to combat a non-existent, tabloid created MRSA epidemic

        >But of course, you know better, it's all tabloid shite. Of course.

        No one said MRSA doesn't exist, Strawman AC.

        Read these and get back to me:

        http://www.badscience.net/category/mrsa/

        0 0 Reply
    2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      "Those "Clean Me!" keyboards..."

      Yeah, why not just use washable membrane covers? Much cheaper and just as effective!

      0 0 Reply
  3. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Unhappy

    Now lets see what version of Windows their core apps support.

    Bet it's not Windows 10.

    Still going to need to run with Admin privileges as well?

    1 0 Reply
  4. keithpeter Silver badge
    Joke

    Cheap and easy way to make the Green target...

    ...cut the printers

    0 0 Reply
  5. Herby

    Maybe they should...

    ...do it all with nice UK technology. Raspberry Pi's on every desktop. It would probably save a bunch of £££!.

    Use existing monitors and get a case for the Pi. If something doesn't work, replace the SD card. Easy as Pi!!

    2 0 Reply
  6. David Lawton

    Until they fix the issue that there core apps are written for Windows the NHS and IT is always going to be a disaster.

    1 1 Reply
  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    NHS: Can we make sure Epson Ecotank Printers aren't classed 'Green IT'

    Buyers of “Green IT” - kit that “demonstrates significant sustainability benefits beyond energy use” - will have £10m to splash. This is hardware that incorporates “environmental, economic and social sustainability principles”, the tender stated.

    A lot of people think Epson EcoTank Printers would fall into this category, but these printers have a hidden flaw - a single use Waste Ink Pad that once full, renders the Printer obsolete for the most part (its cheaper to replace the printer) and a set number of head cleans (about 100 on normal Epson).

    Its like free entry to the club, then having to pay as your leave.

    They shouldn't be on the 'Green IT' list.

    Convenient Printing - Yes, Eco friendly - No.

    You could argue any printing/printed material isn't green though.

    0 0 Reply

POST COMMENT House rules

Not a member of The Register? Create a new account here.

Forgotten password ?

  • Enter your comment

  • Add an icon

Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon

Other stories you might like