James Rawlinson, director of well being informatics at The Rotherham NHS Basis Belief, says that 2% of the belief’s gadgets couldn’t be up to date to Home windows 11 (Credit score: The Rotherham NHS Basis Belief)
Unique: NHS migration to Microsoft Home windows 11 is being stalled by medical system suppliers which haven’t upgraded to the working system, Digital Well being Information has discovered.
Since 14 October 2025, Microsoft Home windows 10 has not acquired safety updates, that means that NHS organisations both needed to improve outdated {hardware} or pay for Microsoft’s prolonged safety replace.
James Rawlinson, director of well being informatics at The Rotherham NHS Basis Belief, mentioned that round 98% of the belief’s Home windows property has been upgraded to Home windows 11 owing to “superb work by our tech groups”.
The belief has upgraded round 7,000 gadgets within the final three years, with round 30-40% requiring new {hardware}, whereas the remaining had been in-place upgrades.
Nevertheless Rawlinson mentioned that 2% of the belief’s gadgets haven’t been upgraded as a result of the present model of medical system suppliers’ software program doesn’t work in Home windows 11.
One provider quoted the belief £25,000 to improve a three-year-old system to make it Home windows 11 appropriate.
“We’ve some examples the place we purchased scientific and medical gear and the producer now says we now have to purchase it model new regardless that it’s solely three years outdated,” Rawlinson mentioned.
“A part of their excuse is that they must undergo, and rightly, very stringent checks with the Medicines and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Company for his or her software program to work together with a bodily piece of medical gear.
“We would like them to do this, however it nonetheless leaves a nasty style in your mouth once you’ve spent £34,000 on a chunk of kit after which three years later, you’re going to spend all of it once more as a result of they themselves simply gained’t improve to assist Home windows 11.
“Traditionally these medical gear suppliers have offered end-to-end assist for his or her software program and gear, however then immediately say ‘It’s nothing to do with us, it’s as much as your native IT to take care of it, however don’t fear, you should purchase prolonged assist from Microsoft’. It simply stinks,” he added.
The belief is isolating gadgets that haven’t been upgraded in a safe quarantined atmosphere to minimise cyber danger whereas negotiating with suppliers to discover a long-term answer.
Rawlinson mentioned the problem was “worrisome” and in contrast it to driving a automobile with out insurance coverage.
“You simply hope and pray that nothing untoward occurs, but when it did we’d must disconnect these gadgets from our information community, which might affect native care,” he mentioned, including that this might result in points corresponding to a cardiology system not with the ability to learn pacemakers.
Commenting on the problem, cyber safety professional Saif Abed, founding accomplice on the AbedGraham Group, mentioned it’s “deeply regarding“ that trusts are being compelled into greater danger publicity by suppliers.
“With out central assist or coordinated stress on distributors, the NHS is left absorbing the scientific, operational and safety penalties of poor provide chain behaviour.
“If scientific IT suppliers are severe about cyber safety and affected person security, they need to have ensured their NHS clients may migrate to Home windows 11 with out incurring extra prices. This can be a primary expectation of accountable software program lifecycle administration.”
Digital Well being Information contacted NHSE for remark.
