Getech, in collaboration with Lenovo, aims to tackle challenges in the NHS’s digital transformation by offering innovative IT solutions designed to meet the needs of healthcare workers
We all know that the NHS stands at a critical juncture. Navigating unprecedented demand and an evolving health landscape where more citizens are managing more long-term conditions, in addition to more complex conditions concerning mental health and other issues that can’t simply be treated during a hospital visit. Yet, within these immense challenges lies an equally immense opportunity: to truly lift our national health service from ‘the foothills of digital transformation,’ as the Lord Darzi report put it.
The digital deficit
Outdated and inadequate technology has been a persistent frustration for our dedicated healthcare professionals. An RCGP poll (October 2024) revealed that a concerning 30% of GPs reported their work PC or laptop was simply not fit for purpose. As Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the RCGP, critically observed: “General practice is already struggling to keep up with increasing patient need for our care, and inadequate infrastructure only compounds these pressures… GPs are being held back by old IT that is unfit for purpose.”
This sentiment is echoed by Lord Darzi’s independent investigation, published the month prior, which identified a strong perception among NHS staff that IT consistently created an ‘additional burden.’ Lord Darzi writes: ‘It always seems to add to the workload of clinicians rather than releasing more time to care by simplifying the inevitable administrative tasks that arise.’
This sentiment is echoed by Lord Darzi’s independent investigation, published the month prior, which identified a strong perception among NHS staff that IT consistently created an ‘additional burden.’ Lord Darzi writes: ‘It always seems to add to the workload of clinicians rather than releasing more time to care by simplifying the inevitable administrative tasks that arise.’
Empowering frontline teams
Getech, in strategic partnership with Lenovo, is a trusted IT distributor on a mission. For over 35 years, they have supported organisations across education, business and the public sector to grasp technological innovations that deliver results. Their recent work towards addressing the digital divide in our communities has enabled them to develop a portfolio of solutions perfectly suited to the challenges facing the NHS, from ADISA-certified IT Asset Management to repurposing ageing Windows 10 hardware for initiatives that help more people access online services.
Investing in technology is a strategic investment in our health service’s most valuable asset: people. Lenovo’s ‘People-First Digital Ecosystem Report’ (2022) highlights that employees are twice as engaged and 85% more likely to stay for three years or more if they feel they have technology that supports them at work. Further research with Intel (2020) found that IT decision-makers focusing on technology satisfaction saw over 10% improvement in user experience scores, generating an impressive $5 return for every dollar spent.
Lenovo’s comprehensive range of innovative devices is specifically designed to meet the diverse and demanding needs of frontline healthcare. For mobile community staff, the ThinkPad X12 detachable offers a robust, high-performance, and cost- effective alternative to Microsoft Surface or iPad Pro devices. Built with durability testing, biometric security options, and a long battery life, these devices empower frontline workers to transform their device from a tablet to a laptop on the fly. In other crucial settings, such as hospital receptions, nursing stations, or medical imaging departments, Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny desktops provide powerful, secure, and space-saving computing with integrated ThinkShield features for enhanced protection of sensitive patient information.
Beyond individual devices, flexible acquisition models like TruScale Device as a Service (DaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offer new ways for trusts to manage their IT. These subscription-based services liberate organisations from large upfront capital expenditure so they can act more quickly to the changing needs of their workforce and the evolving technology landscape. This flexibility is vital in addressing the ‘chronic lack of capital investment’ Lord Darzi highlighted, so that the NHS can move beyond outdated hardware cycles and the impending impact of the Windows 10 end-of-life date on 14 October 2025.
Your direct route to digital transformation
The NHS Tech Devices – Link 4 Framework Agreement presents more than just another procurement vehicle; it’s a strategic enabler for public sector organisations. Specifically designed to ‘modernise NHS hardware,’ it provides a compliant, efficient route to acquire the latest equipment at competitive prices. However, with budgets already strained and the digital divide growing wider, Lot 4 (Refurbished and remanufactured devices) comes at an opportune time to significantly and positively impact our communities through technology at both ends. To support ambitious net-zero targets, Getech offers a unique, end-to-end IT Asset Management (ITAM) service. Old devices that may otherwise be scrapped can be safely repurposed thanks to ADISA-certified data destruction processes, then provided with a new lease of life by utilising Google’s ChromeOS Flex. Benefiting from cloud-first management and Zero Trust security features, these refreshed devices are prepared for redeployment either within your IT estate in edge use cases, such as managed device loan schemes for patients and visitors, or distributed to charities to support digital inclusion initiatives in the community.
For devices beyond repurposing, WEEE-compliant asset destruction and recycling are handled by Getech’s trusted partner, RecycleIT. This ensures guaranteed secure data destruction and environmentally sound disposal, offering NHS trusts and other public sector organisations a clear strategy aligned with the framework’s support for net-zero targets.
Your next step
Taking advantage of Getech’s comprehensive solutions, whether by procuring Lenovo’s technology via Lot 1 or utilising ADISA-certified ITAM services for secure repurposing via Lot 4, presents a significant and tangible step towards overcoming the current technological deficit experienced across the NHS and disadvantaged communities.
Empowering your passionate frontline staff through simplified workflows that reduce administrative burden to improve every experience with end-user devices across your estate is immediately achievable with Getech via the NHS Tech Devices – Link 4 Framework Agreement.
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