700 Fujitsu IT jobs at risk

Up to 700 people working on a NHS IT project for Fujitsu could be let go, the company confirmed to IT PRO today.

Contract negotiations between the NHS and Fujitsu for the 12.7 billion NHS Connecting for Health National Programme for IT (NPfIT) were terminated at the end of May when the two companies could not agree terms.

Fujitsu employed about 1,000 people on the NHS IT contract, according to Unite, the UK's largest trade union.

In a statement released on Friday, Peter Skyte, Unite National Officer, said the government must act quickly to end the "present uncertainty and insecurity for the highly skilled IT people" working on Fujitsu's NHS contract.

"The government must act to ensure that the knowledge and skills gained in working for Fujitsu are retained, whoever the provider or providers are in the future, and ensure that the skilled staff can help the project continue to a successful conclusion in the interests of patients, the NHS and the health of the nation," Skyte advised.

The options for Fujitsu employees working on the contract will be presented to them during a 90 day consultation period, the company said.

BT and CSC are the remaining possible contract suppliers, after Fujitsu's contract ended and Accenture dropped out earlier this year.