£1.5bn tech framework to accelerate NHS hardware upgrades

A new £1.5bn framework aimed at upgrading outdated NHS hardware and accelerating the move from analogue to digital technology has officially launched.

The Tech Devices – Link 4 framework, developed through a joint initiative by NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC), is designed to streamline the procurement of modern IT equipment for NHS Trusts and the wider public sector. The framework offers a compliant, simplified route to purchase essential devices from pre-approved suppliers—ranging from desktops and laptops to clinical displays and medical workstations.

For NHS digital leaders it presents an opportunity to overcome long-standing issues tied to ageing, incompatible technology. Many NHS Trusts still rely on legacy systems that hinder the implementation of advanced software like Electronic Patient Records (EPR), while clinicians often waste valuable time dealing with technical failures.

“This is about more than just replacing old hardware,” said Sakir Mahmud, Principal Category Manager for Digital and IT at NHS SBS. “It’s about laying the foundation for a digital-first NHS that is more inclusive, efficient, and patient-focused.”

Backed by NHS England, the framework is also available to education trusts, universities, and local authorities, enabling public sector organisations to benefit from NHS-scale purchasing power. It supports broader transformation ambitions, such as those highlighted in the government’s forthcoming 10-year plan, where the transition from analogue to digital is identified as a key priority.

The framework also includes a Refurbished and Remanufactured Devices Lot, supporting the NHS’s net-zero targets with cost-effective and environmentally sustainable options.

According to Adele Guettat, Category Manager for Technology at NOE CPC, the benefits go far beyond improved IT performance: “Without up-to-date devices, trusts simply can’t modernise. Outdated technology undermines morale, delays patient care, and increases cybersecurity risks. With modern hardware in place, we can unlock innovations like AI and digital patient records.”