System C launches consultancy business

System C healthcare has launched a new consultancy, Perigon Consulting, intended to help NHS organisations focus on improving services to patients through innovative clinical practice and associated business efficiencies.

Perigon, which will operate as a division of System C, has been created by merging Perigon Healthcare, an existing independent healthcare consulting partnership, specialising in ‘future state’ healthcare development, with System C’s existing healthcare consulting practice which focuses on IT deployment and services.

Over the past few years System C has developed from being principally a clinical software company into one of the most active implementation consultancy and support firms associated with NHS National Programme for IT projects.

The newly merged Perigon Consulting is led by Amanda Bassett and Pam Parry. Both are ex-nurses and have worked locally and nationally. Bassett was previously national project manager for the NHS Modernisation Agency and Parry was a regional lead for the implementation of Choose and Book.

Dr Ian Denley, chief executive of System C, said: “Improving patient care is at the heart of what we do at System C and the creation of Perigon is a natural extension for us. We have dozens of clinical staff designing and deploying IT systems and there is a large overlap between these services and the operational side of clinical change that Perigon specialises in.”

One existing client of Perigon Healthcare is Northern Ireland’s Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Hugh Mullen, director of performance and provider development, commented: “This relationship with a large and well-respected healthcare supplier will augment Perigon’s clinical innovation by providing substantial additional capacity and flexibility.”

Previous clients have included Bolton PCT; Carlisle PCT; Walsall Manor Hospitals; Selly Oak Hospital; Grantham and District Hospital; Whipps Cross Hospital NHS Trust; North Cumbria Acute Services NHS Trust; Cumbria and Lancashire Strategiuc Health Authority and Nuffield Hospitals.