Press Releases
ComMedica
December 2004
Woking (7 December 2004) - COMMEDICA, the UK-based healthcare IT specialist originally spun out from Imperial College, London, has signed a £33m contract with Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) to supply its Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) imaging software to the National Health Service.
This will involve ComMedica providing PACS to the CSC Alliance in support of the NHS’ National Programme for IT (NPfIT). The CSC Alliance is the North West and West Midlands (NWWM) Local Service Provider for NPfIT. ComMedica is part of the CSC Alliance, which is led by CSC and also includes Kodak.
ComMedica will supply specialist software allowing the capture, distribution and management of digital medical diagnostic images (such as x-rays and scans) for use in the NHS across the North West and West Midlands. ComMedica will also provide consultancy services in support of the CSC Alliance deployment team.
The contract will run for approximately 8 years (until June 2013) and will generate revenues of some £33 m for ComMedica.
The CSC Alliance will provide an integrated solution for radiology, which will link radiology reports and images into the NHS Care Records Service. The first PACS solution to be deployed in the North West and West Midlands cluster is scheduled for the first quarter of 2005. Complete coverage across NWWM is due to be achieved by March 2007, allowing millions of patients to receive treatment more quickly and efficiently. The NWWM area serves 14 million people (26% of the population of England) and the CSC Alliance PACS solution will be used in over 100 hospitals.
Mark Simon, Chief Executive Officer of ComMedica, said: "The signing of this contract will enable us to commence the early deployment of PACS in the North West and West Midlands cluster to meet the strong demand from clinicians. The CSC Alliance’s PACS software is among the most comprehensive solutions available worldwide for the delivery of radiology systems across a large healthcare enterprise.
“ComMedica’s PACS software is the product of many years of working with clinicians in the NHS and internationally. We look forward to playing our part in transforming the quality of delivery of diagnostic services in the North West and West Midlands of England.”
Keith Wilman, President of CSC’s Northern Region (UK, Ireland and Netherlands) said: "The CSC Alliance is delighted to have entered into this contract with ComMedica for PACS. ComMedica has consistently demonstrated its understanding of the requirements of the National Programme’s vision for PACS and we look forward to working with ComMedica and Kodak on the all-important implementation phase of this important project.”
Gordon Hextall, Chief Operating Officer of the NHS National Prgramme for IT, said: "We are delighted that the CSC Alliance has found an innovative PACS solution from UK-based ComMedica. We hope that ComMedica’s success will encourage other enterprises to participate in the NHS’ National Programme for IT. CSC and its Alliance members have worked with us to offer what we believe to be the best possible combination of value and first-class performance. PACS offers the greatest opportunity to reduce diagnostic waiting times and the new system will help doctors do what they do best - treat patients.”
Alan Bristow of ICON, who act for ComMedica added: “We are delighted that ComMedica have secured this valuable contract, this business has a very exciting future.”
