Sun Microsystems has announced it has received notice from the NHS Director General of IT, Richard Granger, for the evaluation of Sun’s Java Desktop System across the NHS. The evaluation could help bring an open, affordable and secure desktop solution to the NHS, which has over 1 million employees throughout England and Wales, enabling the money saved on software costs to be redirected into more critical areas, such as front-line patient care.
The Java Desktop System represents the first viable Windows alternative in 15 years, offering an open enterprise desktop that can interoperate with existing desktop infrastructure. Key features, which incorporate all the proven benefits of Sun’s StarOffice productivity suite, additionally include a well-defined, integrated look and feel, familiar desktop themes, as well as document and printing interoperability with all open systems platforms including Linux, Solaris and Windows environments.
“Our evaluation of the Java Desktop System holds the promise of allowing a greater share of NHS funding to flow directly towards improved levels of Patient Service,” commented Granger. “Sun’s innovation and flexible approach to addressing the business challenges of the NHS are an example which we would encourage all IT Vendors to note. If this solution were to prove effective we could save the NHS and the Taxpayer many millions of pounds whilst at the same time using rich and innovative software technology.”
“Our agreement with the NHS is a perfect example of how we deliver high quality, cost effective desktop solutions to our customers that specifically match their needs.” said Leslie Stretch, VP and MD of Sun Microsystems UK and Ireland. “The Java Desktop System could dramatically reduce the IT acquisition costs for the NHS and provide it with a predictable cost structure under which it can manage its business.”
The National Programme for IT in the NHS focuses on four key deliverables to improve the patient experience and the delivery of care and services, including electronic booking of appointments; the NHS Care Record Service; electronic transfer of prescriptions; and an underpinning IT infrastructure with sufficient connectivity and broadband capacity to support the critical national applications and local systems.