Shareholders in troubled NHS software supplier iSoft have almost unanimously accepted a proposed takeover bid from Australian software firm IBA Healthcare.

More than 97 per cent voted in favour of the merger, which had been in question after key customer CSC moved to block the sale of iSoft.

CSC, which oversees some 60 per cent of the £12bn National Programme for NHS IT (NPfIT) initially blocked the takeover because of concerns about delivery of iSoft's Lorenzo software for the project.

The dispute was resolved with CSC agreeing to take on greater management control for the delivery of Lorenzo, while iSoft retained intellectual property rights.

The sale was approved after votes at a court meeting and extraordinary general meeting both ruled in favour of the takeover.

The £142m merger remains subject to a hearing in the High Court of Justice for England on 25 July.