Primary care IT supplier INPS has announced that it has signed an agreement to supply its Vision system to 83 GP practices in NHS Lanarkshire.

INPS was one of two suppliers, along with EMIS, that were selected by NHS Scotland as preferred bidders to replace the much-criticised GPASS system.

INPS said the agreement with NHS Lanarkshire means that it will supply Vision to all 83 practices that currently use GPASS.

The company said the first systems will start to be installed next month. Vision is already being used in almost all practices throughout Tayside, Grampian, Highland and Orkney.

Max Brighton, INPS managing director, added: “In recent years, INPS has developed a position of strength in Scotland and we are very pleased to welcome the NHS Lanarkshire practices into the rapidly growing Scottish Vision community.”

INPS said Vision has accredited functionality for many Scottish Enhanced Functionality services including the electronic Acute Medication Service, electronic Chronic Medication Service, the electronic Palliative Care Summary and Scottish Cervical Cytology Results.

A spokesperson for NHS Lanarkshire said: “NHS Lanarkshire welcomes INPS’s commitment to the Scottish market and looks forward to forging strong partnership links and to the continuing development of the GP IT clinical system in Lanarkshire.”

The decision to abandon GPASS was made following an independent report into the future of GP IT, written by consultants Deloitte in 2006.

Since then, some health boards have begun to migrate their practices onto other systems – predominantly Vision – while others have been waiting for NHS Services Scotland to announce its preferred bidders.

Last month EMIS announced that it had won the contract to supply EMIS Web to 243 practices in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Link: INPS