£1.2bn contract awarded for NHS workforce management solution

Indian technology firm Infosys has been awarded a £1.2bn contract by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to deliver an integrated workforce management solution for the NHS.

The Future NHS Workforce Solution, which is expected to be fully implemented by 2030, is intended to support NHS organisations and their employees by providing a complete employment lifecycle platform over the 15-year contract duration.

It will include functions such as recruitment, onboarding, career development, workforce management, payroll and retirement.

The solution will succeed the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and continue to pay 1.9 million NHS employees (5% of the UK workforce), more than £55bn in payroll each year.

Michael Brodie, chief executive at NHSBSA, said: “Delivering the Future NHS Workforce Solution is a critical step in supporting the NHS workforce ambitions and commitments in the 10 year health plan to create an NHS fit for the future.

“The future solution will go far beyond replacing ESR – it provides an opportunity for the NHS to save significant amounts of money, which can be put back into patient care to help people live longer, healthier lives.

“Working with Infosys, we’re creating a modern, data-driven solution that will help the NHS better attract, retain and support its people.

“This is about delivering lasting change for the NHS workforce and the communities we serve.”

The solution will use technology and AI to allow employees to connect more easily with digital systems and manage their personal information more efficiently.

It will also provide the NHS with improved data about its workforce so that managers can make better planning decisions, which is hoped to enable productivity improvements and help to drive down costs.

Salil Parekh, chief executive and managing director at Infosys, said: “We are honoured to be chosen by the NHSBSA to deliver generational change for employees of the NHS in England and Wales through the Future NHS Workforce Solution.

“We will deliver a platform that not only drives efficiency today but empowers the NHS to elevate its invaluable work into the future.”

The NHSBSA has listened to the views of more than 15,000 people across the NHS workforce to understand their needs and the solution is hoped to offer an opportunity to standardise ways of working to create a more consistent and user-friendly experience for NHS staff.