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Atos Origin selected as preferred bidder by British Department of Health for diagnostics procurement programme - South West Region


WEBWIRE

Diagnostic services brought closer to primary care and patients

London, 23 August 2006 - Atos Origin, a leading IT services company, today announced that its Medical Services division has been selected by the British Department of Health as preferred bidder for the South West Region of the independent sector diagnostics procurement programme. The South West Region contract, one of seven shortly to be awarded, will run for five years starting in April 2007.

When the contract is awarded, the selected provider will handle diagnostic imaging including MR, CT, ultrasound, x?ray and DEXA; endoscopy; audiology; and physiological measurement, dealing with around one million investigations throughout the life of the contract. The geographical area covered encompasses Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

Diagnostic services will be delivered from a range of healthcare sites, including city centre and hospital locations and GP surgeries, as well as mobile facilities. The services will be provided at a range of times including weekends and early evenings at some locations, offering patients greater choice and better access to local health services.

A Department of Health spokesman said:

“A further milestone has been reached that will help the NHS to meet the Government’s target that by 2008 all NHS patients should be treated within 18 weeks of their GP referral, support choice and contestability, create an Independent Sector market that delivers Value for Money, support the shift to primary care, and promote innovative service models. The additional capacity provided by the Independent Sector will help cut ’hidden waits’ brought about by patients waiting for diagnostic tests ahead of any further treatment required”.

“Atos Origin is delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for the South West region contract, an area which faces tougher geographical challenges than many others,” said Simon Chipperfield, senior vice president, Medical Services, Atos Origin. “We look forward to the final stage of the bid and the potential opportunity to work closely with the Strategic Health Authorities, NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts to increase patient access to facilities and patient choice, and reduce waiting times for these diagnostic services.”

Atos Origin is a unique service provider to the UK healthcare sector, providing occupational health, primary care, capability assessment and diagnostic services to more than two million people each year. Atos Origin also delivers IT programmes at the heart of the health service modernisation programme, increasing patient choice and improving the patient experience.


About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company’s annual revenues are more than EUR 5,5 billion and it employs over 47,000 people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international blue-chip companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Euronext Market Solutions, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.



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