AdEPT Technology Group plc (LON:ADT) connectivity powers part of the NHS’ biggest data network transition programme to date.
Winning a mandate to deliver a substantial program of work is only the start of the journey. Delivering success, and being commended as a result, is a far more important milestone and augurs well for winning new projects to provide critical infrastructure in both the public and private markets.
The story
In November 2020, the NHS declared victory on a massive project to transfer hundreds of NHS and social care sites from a legacy data network to an updated version in a project expected to save the heath service £75million a year.
About 12,000 sites belonging to 950 NHS, social care, private sector and local authority organisations have moved from the legacy N3 network to the new Health and Social Care Network (HSCN). It is the largest-known public sector data network transition programme, according to NHS Digital.
The legacy N3 network has now been decommissioned.
Organisations that have moved to the HSCN are expected to get faster connectivity with improved security capabilities at a reduced cost. They can now pick from a marketplace of 21 different suppliers who compete to provide standardised network services. It means organisations can get the public internet and private network connectivity services they need over a single connection, at highly competitive prices.
Patrick Clark, Associate Director of Infrastructure Services at NHS Digital, said: “This is a hugely significant achievement both in terms of the scale and the benefit of what has been delivered.
“Reforming long-standing services in order to promote real choice, competition, innovation and value for money is always difficult but the HSCN initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when you work collaboratively across the health and care system, and industry.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important it is to underpin online, digital services with the right connectivity and I’m delighted that the HSCN initiative has enabled so many organisations to upgrade and future-proof their connectivity services affordably – in many cases obtaining far greater bandwidth for less money.”
The value for money generated by the new HSCN marketplace has enabled many organisations to significantly upgrade their connectivity in order to adopt more digital and cloud-based services, cope with rising levels of online activity, support their COvid-19 response and ultimately realise their digital ambitions, NHSD said in a statement.
AdEPT’s role
AdEPT already provides HSCN connectivity across the UK, however the most concentrated success was a programme across the entire Kent NHS, in a contract valued in excess of £4m. This initiative provided connections to over 400 care homes, hospitals, and doctors’ surgeries in a project that will be of huge benefit to clinicians and the public at large.
Patrick Clark commended AdEPT. “On behalf of NHS Digital, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you and your colleagues at AdEPT for your co-operation in driving HSCN migration activity. I have no doubt that without your organisation’s hard work and commitment we would not have arrived at this point so soon.”
Future impact
The credibility arising from delivering such a substantial programme positions AdEPT to secure further infrastructure projects across the UK; whilst the presence AdEPT now has facilitates conversations about additional services from the Adept Technology Group portfolio across the NHS.
