The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has issued a prior information notice looking to engage with suppliers on its upcoming procurement of a digital outpatient system.
The trust is seeking to identify suppliers capable of delivering a system to enhance outpatient experience, streamline operational processes, and integrate “seamlessly” with existing systems within a hospital setting.
An engagement deadline is set for the 9 February 2026, with interested suppliers encouraged get in touch. A tender notice is expected around 1 May 2026, with contract dates estimated to run from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. To learn more, please click here.
In October, HTN explored the trust’s digital and data roadmap to 2028, where they outlined key updates, launches, and procurements, including EPR optimisation, AI pilots, and a LIMS solution. A new digital strategy is also in development and expected to be published in 2025/26.
For 2025/26, focuses will include an EPR upgrade, rollout of Windows 11, the deployment of virtual desktop infrastructure, eRS integration, patient flow system review, ophthalmology EPR procurement, and the procurement of a voice recognition solution. The digital strategy will be launched, and AI work will be undertaken with pilots across Copilot, ambient voice, and clinical coding, with AI-assisted waiting list validation also to be explored.
Wider trend: Digital procurements
Hywel Dda University Health Board has awarded a five year contract worth £194,325 to Meta Compliance for a platform promoting cyber resilience against phishing attacks through training and reporting. The contract means licences will be renewed across the health board, allowing digital services to train staff on identifying phishing attacks and responding “with confidence”, providing training content around awareness and reporting.
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract worth £8 million to The Phoenix Partnership (Leeds) Ltd for an EHR and medicines management system, following a competition through the Clinical Digital Solutions for the Integrated Health Economy Framework part of the NHS London Procurement Partnership. The contract, which is set to run to 8 December 2033, covers standard primary care functionality such as patient registration, consultations, clinical data capture templates, referrals management, long-term condition management, and prescribing. It also incorporates intermediate care functionality such as waiting list management and care planning, as well as medicines management and dispensing.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has shared its intention to procure a cloud-based digital records solution via a prior information notice for potential suppliers. The health board is looking to procure the solution to support the digitisation, secure storage, and lifecycle management of its legacy paper-based records, it notes. The contract notice is expected to be published at the beginning of November 2026, and suppliers can register their interest via the Public Contracts Scotland website.
