NHS Connecting for Health have put in place a number of Enterprise Wide Agreements (EWA) with major IT suppliers to the NHS in England. The objective of these EWAs is to significantly reduce cost of supply of a variety of widely-used software, hardware and services.

The savings released can then be put back into local patient care initiatives by benefitting NHS organisations.

Two main types of EWAs

Centrally purchased

In this case, NHS CFH purchases a set of products and services centrally for the NHS's benefit. The centrally-purchased products are then available, free of local charge, to NHS Organisations.

Centrally negotiated

In this instance, major sub-contractors to NPfIT prime contractors have agreed with NHS CFH that they will offer improved discount levels for the NHS as a whole.

Trusts still purchase products locally, but benefit from a significantly higher level of discount than would have been achievable by each Trust negotiating individually with the Supplier.

NHS Enterprise Wide Agreements in place

NHS organisations should read more detailed EWA briefings (NHS staff only, N3 connection required) on each EWA to ensure they are familiar with the scope of each EWA and key points to note generally about EWA operation.

Government Wide Agreements

In addition to the NHS Enterprise Wide Agreements, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Buying Solutions group has put in place a number of other Government Wide Agreements, which are available to NHS Organisations.

Case Studies

• Eleven trusts in Sussex are being helped to have a more secure IT network, thanks to a Novell EWA.
• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have benefited from the EWAs with Novell.

Contact for further information

Please contact ewat@nhs.net.