The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has spent more than £3.6 million on laptops, tablets, and mobile phones over the past three years as part of its push to modernise remote working and support digital transformation across the sector.
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show the department dramatically increased its IT spending between 2022 and 2024, with the bulk of the funding directed towards laptops. The spend rose from just over £530,000 in 2022-23 to a peak of £2.8 million in 2023-24, before falling back to £248,000 in 2024-25.
Of the total investment, £3.1 million was used for laptops, £380,000 for mobile phones, and £91,000 for iPads. The surge in laptop purchases was the key driver of the increase, rising from around £500,000 in 2022-23 to £2.63 million the following year.
The spending spree came ahead of the government’s Spending Review 2025, which pledged up to £10 billion by 2028-29 to modernise the NHS and social care, strengthen the workforce, and accelerate digital transformation.
Sachin Agrawal, UK managing director at Zoho, welcomed the investment, saying: “Equipping employees with modern technology is essential not only for collaboration and agility, but also for building lasting resilience across the sector. By prioritising digital infrastructure, organisations can strengthen operational effectiveness and contribute to the UK’s broader ambitions in digital transformation and responsible AI adoption.”
The department’s investment reflects a broader government strategy to embed technology more deeply into health and social care services, with the aim of improving efficiency and supporting long-term innovation.