Firms combine with aim to make the health service more efficient

The firms expect to see a big increase in demand for their services as spending is squeezed in order to tackle the large public sector deficit.

Simon Hudson, the director of Hull-based Cloud 2, said: "Through our partnership we bring the best in technology and business change to deliver a complete service to the NHS. Both companies work purely with the NHS which means we understand our customers' problems."

Cloud 2 will build the technology systems, while CMA will ensure that changes are made to make the NHS more efficient, Mr Hudson added.

Mark Limber, a director of York-based CMA Associates, added: "It's not enough to simply install software or technology for improvement; we want to make sure that all staff embrace the changes... It's saving taxpayers' money. It's also about job security for existing NHS jobs."

Cloud 2, which was founded 18 months ago and is about to move to larger premises in Bradford, has developed Kinesis, a software system which saves money by giving GPs access to expert clinical advice. It helps GPs to identify a consultant for their patient, and fix an appointment quickly. It also has a conference call facility.

The partnership between Cloud 2 and CMA is also helping to reduce the time patients spend away from home. Cloud 2's Realtime software helps managers to improve "patient flow", in other words it ensures patients don't spend longer than necessary in hospital. More people are treated and cash is saved.

RealTime has been adopted by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust. As a result, the trust expects to make a 1.2m to 1.5m saving per year.

Cloud 2, which has six full time staff and a team of associates, has helped a number of NHS organisations to manage data more efficiently, including Bradford District Care Trust.

The company, which has a turnover approaching 1m, is led by Mr Hudson and his fellow director Taran Sohal.

CMA, which also has turnover of about 1m, was formed in 2003 by Carol and Mark Limber and specialises in Benefits Management – which means it helps the NHS to implement changes that improve efficiency. The company ensures that the impact of change is monitored and taxpayers get value for money.

Mr Limber, who is an IT and information and knowledge management specialist, said he was helping the NHS to reduce bureaucracy by streamlining the way information is collected.

Recent CMA projects have included work at Bradford Royal Infirmary to help the outpatient department to operate more efficiently.

CMA uses a software called Prosum to see if patients are being treated as quickly as possible.

A CMA spokesman added: "It is a partnership but both companies are also operating separately. We found that often the NHS needed the technology of Cloud 2 but could not roll it out effectively without the support of CMA Associates, and vice versa.

"We share a hands-on approach – we are not your normal 'stand-off' consultancy."

Specialists in resource management

Cloud 2 and CMA Associates specialise in helping the NHS to manage its resources effectively.

CMA can act as a "troubleshooter" to help healthcare trusts raise their game.

For example, several of Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust's services were identified as at risk of failing to meet the required standards, including the paediatric audiology department.

A consultant from CMA was brought in and helped to improve the way the department was managed.

Cloud 2, which was formed in 2008, provides software that helps healthcare organisations to improve their efficiency.

The company works solely with the NHS, mainly on Sharepoint projects.

Sharepoint is Microsoft technology that helps the

NHS to manage information and data.