[parennoob]

> Hospitals have to work with proprietary devices -- for example, retinal scanners etc, many of which only have Windows drivers.

Then the tenders for buying those devices should state "Devices that work with $YOUR_FAVORITE_DISTRO will be given preference.". If it's a reasonable one, they will make a driver for it. Customer demand always generates product; and the NHS is about the biggest customer there is.

[escapologybb]

Exactly, the NHS spends an absolute fortune each year and if they put out a tender somebody will support it no matter the specifications. Sure, some of the larger Vendors will get their noses bent out of shape but who cares?

I mean we are talking about large multinational pharmaceutical, medical equipment and software companies buying something from the largest employer in the world with a tech budget of roughly £1 billion a year (I think).

If the NHS stuck to it's guns, somebody would provide the goods.