• The NHS has been given another 11 months of support for Microsoft Windows 7.
• Trusts, clinical commissioning groups, and national NHS organisations have now been given until December to move to using Windows 10 on all computers and laptops.
• A HSJ snap survey of a third of trusts found just three of these had completed the migration despite the original 14 January deadline.

 
Responding to a snapshot survey by HSJ on the migration to Microsoft Windows 10, and revised deadline of Microsoft support for Windows 7, NHS Providers policy advisor Adam Wright said:

“It is welcome that Microsoft has revised its support deal for Windows 7 for trusts that are yet to complete their migration to newer software.

“Trusts understand the priority of meeting their commitments to migrate to newer operating software.

“Operating older software without proper support, security and updates from suppliers can be frustrating for staff, can impact productivity and can compromise cybersecurity.

Ensuring that trusts have the infrastructure, technology and the support staff in place to carry out these projects despite stretched ICT budgets continues to be a major obstacle.

“However, when migrating to new software there are several considerations, including disruption to clinical services, which can mean the process takes longer than anticipated.

“Ensuring that trusts have the infrastructure, technology and the support staff in place to carry out these projects despite stretched ICT budgets continues to be a major obstacle.”