Atos diagnostics dropped by Department of Health

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The Department of Health has dropped Atos Healthcare as a provider of NHS diagnostic services following the software and services providers failure to meet timelines for delivery and reported errors in patients' scans.

Earlier this year, IT PRO reported that an Atos Healthcare diagnostic contract in the Northwest worth hundreds of millions of pounds was suspended after errors were found in MRI scans and ultrasounds which were outsourced to the firm. That contract has now been terminated, the DoH said.

Another contract in the Southwest has also been cancelled, after Atos failed to meet contractual conditions or agreed timelines for delivery. Atos Healthcare is the recently-formed healthcare division of Atos Origin.

"We are committed to bringing in independent sector providers into the NHS where they meet a need for capacity, meet the local needs of patients and where they offer value for money," said Ben Bradshaw, the new minister in charge of the NHS Connecting for Health programme. "However, it has become clear that Atos Healthcare is not in a position to deliver the services to the agreed timetable and we have decided not to proceed with this partnership."

In a statement, Atos Healthcare said: "The Department of Health yesterday advised Atos Healthcare that it did not intend to proceed with its centrally procured diagnostic services contracts for the Northwest and Southwest regions. We are in the process of engaging in discussions with the Department of Health to agree the final termination details of the contract."

The strategic health authority (SHA) will seek out alternative arrangements, including using existing contractors, to provide the services in order to ensure patients - and waiting time targets - are not affected.

"Diagnostic services will continue to be provided by local trusts and other local independent sector organisations in the area to ensure patients continue to been seen quickly and the NHS locally continues to make progress cutting waiting times," Bradshaw said.

The department brought the independent sector in to the NHS to overcome bottlenecks in diagnostic tests. While the services are run by the various suppliers, they are funded by the NHS.

"The independent sector has played an important role in delivering the Government's reforms of the NHS, providing high and fast treatment for patients who used to wait up to 18 months for an operation ten years ago," Bradshaw said.

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