Oxfordshire puts out-of-hours GPs on GPS

A south-eastern primary care trust is paying CSC £728,000 for a system which will allocate out-of-hours doctors' visits through satellite tracking

CSC said that Oxfordshire PCT will be the first NHS user of its OmniLocation system, which is used to allocate mobile staff based on their location then track them as they travel.

"It makes the reporting easier, and makes the allocation of staff easier," said Andrew Spence, CSC's UK director of healthcare strategy. The system is already used in other sectors, such as mobile engineers working for utility firms.

As part of the deal, CSC will also provide the PCT with its SystmOne electronic patient record system to record treatment carried out by GP out of hours services, as well as emergency dental services, minor injury units and first aid centres.

The firm will start installing its systems in April as part of a three year contract with the trust, which has an option to renew for a further three years. The deal covers installation, project management and maintenance of the system.

Spence said CSC is exploring how it can offer other systems and services it provides to other sectors to the NHS, including server virtualisation and mobile working using dynamic desktops.

The firm recently said it will introduce new healthcare systems to NHS customers, including its clinical information portal, joining up data on a trust; its electronic patient folder, for digitising patient records; and self-service kiosks, allowing patients to 'check in' saving receptionists' time.

The firm acts as local service provider to the North, Midlands and East area of the NHS, covering 60% of England.

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