What NHS Informatics Merseyside does

NHS Informatics Merseyside (IM) is a hosted NHS digital services provider, established in 2006 and operated within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, delivering IT support and clinical systems services to health and care organisations across the Merseyside and Cheshire regions. The organisation supports over 30,000 NHS users across 280 sites, managing 300+ systems and 24,000 devices, with a workforce of 300+ digital professionals and clinical informaticians led by Managing Director Stephen Appleton (who also serves as CDIO for Mersey Care). Its core platform is the IM Digital Portal, launched in 2025, which integrates an AI-powered digital assistant (IDA), equipment catalogue ordering, automated user account forms, Smartcard services, and access to IM Online Learning, delivered through a phased rollout to NHS partner organisations.

The product portfolio spans IT Service Desk (24/7 first and second-line support), Clinical Systems Development and Continual Service Improvement, Microsoft 365 optimisation, Information Governance, IT Security, Network and Server Architecture, Systems Integration, SharePoint Development, Digital Device Management, Voice and Data Support, and Registration Authority services for NHS Smartcards. Adjacent offerings include the Digital Skills Training Service (Gold Level Training Service Accreditation from Skills Development Network, November 2023) and the standalone Data Protection Officer as a Service (IMDPO), which has been extended to the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board.

NHS Informatics Merseyside operates on a not-for-profit basis as a public sector hosted service, generating revenue through NHS commissioning frameworks and direct partnerships with NHS Foundation Trusts, Integrated Care Boards, primary care networks, and GP federations. Customer concentration sits within a single regional commissioning ecosystem anchored by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust as both parent and primary client, with no external venture, private equity, or public market ownership. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. GTM combines a sales-led Business Development function engaging NHS partner organisations with a self-service PLG motion via the IM Digital Portal.

Name

NHS Informatics Merseyside

Legal name

NHS Informatics Merseyside

Website

https://imerseyside.nhs.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NHS Informatics Merseyside is a hosted NHS digital services provider within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, delivering IT support, clinical systems integration, digital skills training, and a unified AI-assisted portal to over 30,000 NHS users across 280 sites in the Merseyside and Cheshire region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare IT Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud Security (CSPM/CWPP/CIEM) for Health IT (HLACAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Security, Privacy, Compliance & Audit Tooling for Telehealth (HLALAKAK)

Keywords

• Healthcare IT services
• NHS digital support
• Clinical systems management
• Digital skills training
• Data protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Knowsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. NHS Digital Services Commissioning: As a hosted service of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Informatics Merseyside operates within the NHS commissioning framework, providing digital services and IT support to health and care organisations across Merseyside.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NHS Informatics Merseyside provides IT services, digital support and clinical systems management to health and care organisations across the Merseyside region. Its core offering is a managed digital services portfolio anchored on the IM Digital Portal (a unified digital front door featuring the IDA AI-powered assistant), supported by a 24/7 IT Service Desk, Digital Skills Training, Data Protection Officer as a Service, Information Governance, Microsoft 365 optimisation, and clinical, network and security infrastructure services.

Product overview

NHS Informatics Merseyside (IM) provides a comprehensive digital services portfolio for health and care organisations spanning primary, community and secondary care. The core offering centres on the IM Digital Portal - a unified digital front door that integrates AI-powered support via IDA, equipment ordering, automated forms, and access to IM Online Learning. Supporting services include IT Service Desk, Clinical Systems Development, Digital Skills Training Service (Gold accredited), Data Protection Officer as a Service (DPOaaS), Information Governance, IT Security, Microsoft 365 Optimisation, Network and Server Architecture, Systems Integration, and SharePoint Development. The portfolio manages over 300 systems, 24,000 devices, and supports over 30,000 users across 280 NHS sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IM Digital Portal: A one-stop digital front door platform bringing all digital support services together, including AI-powered IM Digital Assistant (IDA), equipment catalogue, Smartcard services, and IM Online Learning access.
• IM Online Learning
• IMDPO

Products and services

• IM Digital Portal One-stop digital front door for NHS partner organisations that brings all aspects of digital support together in a single platform, offering AI-powered support via IDA, equipment catalogue ordering, automated forms for new user accounts, IM Online Learning access and Smartcard services.
• IM Online Learning Round-the-clock digital skills training platform offering interactive courses, tailored training and step-by-step guides for clinical and digital systems including Microsoft 365 tools, with a personalised learner dashboard, progress tracking, completion certificates and ability to book on-site or virtual training.
• Digital Skills Training Service High-quality training and support for clinical and digital systems including Attend Anywhere, Beacon, Thalamos, EMIS Web, Envisage, eObs, EPMA, PACIS, Rio, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 applications; awarded Gold Level Training Service Accreditation by the Skills Development Network.
• Data Protection Officer as a Service (DPOaaS) Provides a named Data Protection Officer and supporting Information Governance Team for advice on day-to-day data protection, privacy issues, data breach responses and management, helping organisations discharge their DPO duties in line with legislation and national standards.
• IT Service Desk First and second-line IT support including out-of-hours service, handling service desk calls, monitoring contact channels, logging incidents and resolving issues at first point of contact; available 24/7 for urgent issues via telephone (0151 296 7777) and self-service portal.
• Clinical Systems Development and Continual Service Improvement Development and continuous improvement of clinical systems to support healthcare delivery across NHS partner organisations.
• Microsoft 365 Optimisation Optimisation services for Microsoft 365 including Teams, Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and apps (Forms, Sway, Planner, Loop).
• Information Governance (IG) Information governance support and services ensuring compliance with data protection legislation and national standards.
• IT Security IT security services including security systems, cyber security and IT security management for NHS partner organisations.
• Network Architecture Network architecture design and management services for NHS partner organisations.
• Server Architecture Server architecture design and management services for NHS partner organisations.
• Systems Integration Systems integration services enabling interoperability between different healthcare IT systems used by NHS partner organisations.
• Digital Programme and Project Management Digital programme and project management for healthcare digital transformation initiatives across NHS partner organisations.
• SharePoint Development SharePoint development services for building collaborative digital workspaces for NHS partner organisations.
• Digital Device Management Management of digital devices (24,000+) across supported health and care organisations.
• Voice and Data Support Voice and data communication support services for NHS partner organisations.
• Registration Authority (RA Smartcards) Registration Authority services for NHS Smartcards, including issuing, managing and passcode-reset services (via Care Identity Management).

Quantifiable outcome

• Support for over 30,000 NHS professionals across 280 sites managing 300+ systems and 24,000 devices
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Skills Development NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS Informatics Merseyside works with the Skills Development Network, which delivers the Foundation Apprenticeship Programme directed at school/college leavers to attract new entrants to the NHS. The Digital Skills Training Service also received Gold Level Training Service Accreditation from this network.
• Mersey Care NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is the host organisation for NHS Informatics Merseyside's digital service. Staff are employed by Mersey Care, and FOI requests are managed through Mersey Care. Stephen Appleton serves as both Managing Director of IM and CDIO for Mersey Care.
• NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIM provides digital services including Data Protection Officer as a Service to NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB. Corporate colleagues from the ICB have access to the IM Digital Portal as Phase 1 users.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• EMIS Group: Major UK vendor of primary care clinical software (EMIS Web) used across the NHS; comparable as a digital health platform that NHS Informatics Merseyside supports and integrates with for GP practices.
• TPP (The Phoenix Partnership): UK health IT vendor providing the SystmOne EPR platform across NHS trusts and GP practices; comparable as a healthcare-IT incumbent whose systems IM integrates with and supports.
• System C Healthcare: UK vendor of hospital EPR, maternity and child health systems widely used in NHS trusts; comparable as a healthcare-IT incumbent whose clinical systems IM manages and integrates.
• Sopra Steria (UK Health): European IT services group with significant UK public-sector and NHS contracts (e.g. NHS Spine); comparable as a managed IT services and systems integration provider to NHS and other UK public-sector bodies.
• Kainos: UK-listed digital services and platform company with a significant NHS digital practice (including work on the NHS App); comparable as a commercial provider of digital and managed services into NHS organisations.
• Accenture (UK Health practice): Global IT services firm with major NHS transformation and digital delivery contracts; comparable as a large-scale commercial provider of IT services, systems integration and digital transformation to the NHS.

Direct peers

• NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS): NHS shared service providing IT, informatics and digital support to trusts and ICBs across the North of England; directly analogous operating model and customer base.
• NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit: Another NHS CSU offering IT, informatics, data and digital services to NHS trusts and ICBs; closely comparable in scope (managed IT services, informatics, training) and operating model.
• NHS Arden and GEM Commissioning Support Unit: One of the larger NHS commissioning support units providing digital, IT and transformation services to NHS organisations across the Midlands; directly comparable as an NHS-hosted shared digital services provider.
• NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit: CSU providing digital, analytics and IT services across the South of England; comparable as another NHS-hosted shared digital services unit serving multiple trusts and ICBs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NHSiMerseyside
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nhs-informatics-merseyside

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NHS Informatics Merseyside