NHS Business Services (NHS SBS) and the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) have partnered to launch a new framework agreement that will see the modernising of outdated NHS hardware.

This initiative targets the problem of outdated technology, and ensures that essential end-user devices are upgraded to be compatible with the latest operating systems and software.

This comes following the Darzi Review, which highlights several critical problems, including the urgent need for digital transformation; legacy technology systems in the NHS often fail to meet the demands of modern healthcare, which only exacerbates existing problems of productivity and workflows.

Old desktops, laptops, and mobile devices struggle to run programs like Electric Patient Record (EPR) systems, which hinder progress and prevent effective upgrades. This impacts the efficiency of healthcare staff, who face frustrating delays from malfunctioning equipment and difficulties managing critical information.

Thus, the Tech Devices — Link 4 framework agreement includes four categories covering essential devices like desktops, laptops, tablets, and healthcare-specific equipment like medical workstations and clinical diagnostic monitions. To support sustainability, the framework also offers refurbished and remanufactured devices, which will provide high-performance, cost-effective solutions that align with NHS’s net-zero ambitions.

Endorsed by NHS England, this framework agreement will streamline procurement processes, and allow both NHS trust and other public sector bodies (like education trusts, universities, and local authorities) to purchase the latest hardware quickly and compliantly from vetted suppliers. This approach will leverage the buying power of the NHS to benefit a wider range of public sector organisations.

Sakir Mahmud, principal category manager for digital and IT at NHS SBS, added: “The NHS’s vision of a streamlined, inclusive digital health service depends on a robust IT infrastructure. Modernising IT equipment is vital to overcoming challenges, enabling innovation, and ensuring healthcare professionals can prioritise patient care.”