South asked to buy systems by April

The Department of Health expects 'the majority of trusts' in the south of England to procure informatics systems in the first few months of next year

Christine Connelly, the department's chief information officer, told NHS staff and suppliers that she wants trusts to start formal procurement in January and, if possible, complete the process by the end of the fiscal year in April. Trusts would be expected to use the Additional Supply Capability and Capacity (ASCC) system.

She announced the plan at a market awareness event for the ASCC process in London on 24 November 2009.

The event was closed to the media, but a departmental spokesperson said: "The aim is to begin the formal procurement process in January 2010 and have completed the process and awarded contracts by the end of the fiscal year. This procurement exercise is taking place across the three southern SHAs and we expect the majority of trusts to take part in this."

Trusts in the south, which covers the South East Coast, South Central and South West strategic health authority areas, have been without a local service provider since Fujitsu left the National Programme for IT last year.

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