Sydney, Mar 25, 2008 AEST (ABN Newswire) - IBA Health Group Limited (ASX: IBA)(PNK: IBATF) - Australia's largest listed health information technology company today announced that its UK subsidiary iB Solutions has won a A$47.8 million (£22 million) contract with NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) to host its Oracle financial and purchasing applications for a further five years.
NHS SBS is a specialist outsourcing and technology company which is a joint venture between the UK's Department of Health and Xansa (Steria (PA:RIA;PNK:SRIAF) acquired Xansa in 2007). iBS has provided services to NHS SBS since 2002. The current contract has been extended until 2014.
iB Solutions is providing a fully hosted managed service from its data centre at Prestwich in Manchester for 2,300 NHS SBS users rising to 3,200 users within two years. The $47.8 million contract excludes software licences as NHS SBS has its own enterprise-wide agreement for Oracle Financials.
With service centres in Leeds, Bristol, and Hampshire, NHS SBS provides services such as accounts payable, debt collection, bank account reconciliation, and account reporting, currently processing around £18bn cash per annum on behalf of 93 NHS organisations.
NHS SBS did examine a number of alternative suppliers, but iB Solutions retained the contract based on its past record of delivering a high performing, stable and successful solution in partnership with NHS SBS.
NHS SBS managing director Jim Vincent, said: "iB Solutions provides a cost-effective and highly reliable service. We enjoy a genuine partnership with iB Solutions, and share a common aim of providing a superior service which delivers sustainable value to our NHS customers."
Eamonn Morris, IB Solutions' managing director, said: "Our relationship with NHS SBS has matured over the past five years into a partnership where there is mutual respect and trust at all levels. The extension of the agreement for a further five years to 2014 clearly indicates the strength of our relationship.
"The agreement by NHS SBS to extend its contract to 2014 along with announcements in December of a $40 million contract with the North East Patches and a $2.75 million deal with six NHS trusts in November, consolidates the capability of our Oracle e-business centre of excellence while enhancing the quality of our earnings for many years to come," concluded Eamonn Morris
In December 2007, NHS Shared Business Services was recognised as a key success for the public sector by the National Audit Office (NAO), the UK government's spending watchdog. The NAO predicts savings of £250 million over 11 years in a report outlining the gains which are starting to be realised as a result of access to better management information, improved financial control and adherence to procurement processes.
"The NOA has recognised the benefits over and above the pure financial savings," Jim Vincent said. "Our NHS clients are benefiting from improved management information, paperless and faster transaction handling and the step change in the robustness of processes."
Contact
Gary Cohen
Executive Chairman & CEO
IBA Health Limited
Phone: +61 2 8251 6700
Email: gary.cohen@ibahealth.com
Media
Greg King
Group Communications & Marketing Director
IBA Health Limited
Phone: +61 413 621 111
Email: greg.king@ibahealth.com
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