Sydney, Mar 25, 2008 (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."
About IBA HEALTH LIMITED
IBA Health Group Limited (ASX: IBA) is the largest specialist information technology company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
IBA builds software applications for healthcare. We work with healthcare professionals to design and build solutions that answer all of the difficult questions posed by today's care delivery challenges. Our solutions act as a catalyst for change, supporting the free exchange of critical information across diverse care settings and participant organisations. We are the leader in the provision of advanced application solutions in modern healthcare economies around the world
Today, over 13,000 provider organisations in 35 countries across five continents use IBA's solutions to manage patient information and drive improvements in their core processes. The group's sustainable development is delivered through careful planning, in-depth analysis of our market and anticipation of evolving requirements. Our business is driven by the collective talent, experience and commitment of over 3,500 healthcare IT experts around the globe.
A global network of IBA subsidiaries, supported by an extensive partner network, provides substantial experience of national healthcare markets. As a result we offer our customers comprehensive knowledge of local market requirements, in terms of culture, language, working practice, healthcare regulation and organisational structure.
For more information on IBA Health, please visit the Company's website at www.ibahealth.com
About Steria
The leading end-to-end IT services provider in Europe for companies which consider new technologies a vital part of their business strategy, Steria focuses on setting up strategic partnerships with its customers in each of its key markets: the public sector, finance, telecommunications, utilities and transport. Steria offers customers integrated services including consulting in core business processes as well as the development and operation of their information systems. In October 2007, Steria acquired the British firm Xansa. The new group employs over 18,000 staff in 16 countries, including 5,000 in India. On December 31, 2007, Steria revenue amounted to EUR1.4 billion. The Group, headquartered in Paris, is listed on the Euronext Paris market.
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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