For defined benefit pension plans, the actuarial present value of benefits (whether vested or nonvested) attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered before a specified date and based on employee service and compensation (if applicable) before that date. The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it includes no assumption about future compensation levels. For plans with flat-benefit or nonpay-related pension benefit formulas, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation are the same.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Accumulated Benefit Obligation

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503844

Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 01, 2010	Oct. 02, 2009
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Total retirement, post-retirement benefit plan and defined benefit plan expense	$ 24,000,000	$ 21,400,000	$ 18,800,000
Accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit pension plans	132,100,000	121,100,000
Minimum [Member] \| US 401(K) Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Participant contribution for eligible base compensation	1.00%
Minimum [Member] \| U.K. Savings Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Participant contribution for eligible base compensation	1.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Defined Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Discount rate	1.60%
Rate of projected compensation increase	1.75%
Maximum [Member] \| US 401(K) Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Participant contribution for eligible base compensation	40.00%
Contribution as percentage on pre-tax basis	25.00%
Contribution as percentage on after-tax basis	15.00%
Maximum [Member] \| U.K. Savings Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Participant contribution for eligible base compensation	100.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Defined Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Discount rate	5.40%
Rate of projected compensation increase	3.90%
US 401(K) Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Participant contribution to defined contribution plan	1% to 40% of their eligible base compensation to the Retirement Plan (up to 25% on a pre-tax basis and an additional 15% on an after-tax basis)
Company match of participant contribution up to 6% of eligible compensation	100.00%
Maximum eligible participant compensation that company matches under defined contribution plan	6.00%
Maximum participant contribution allowed to be invested in VMS common stock	25.00%
U.K. Savings Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Participant contribution to defined contribution plan	1% to 100% of their eligible base compensation
Maximum eligible participant compensation that company matches under defined contribution plan	6.00%
Additional company matching to the U.K. Savings Plan in first year of establishment	2.00%
Additional company matching to the U.K. Savings Plan in second year of establishment	1.00%
Defined Benefit Plans [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Discount rates used to determine the benefit obligations - methodology	the range of 1.60% to 5.40% primarily based on the yields of a universe of high quality corporate bonds in each applicable country or the spot rates on high quality AA-rated corporate bonds, with durations corresponding to the expected duration of the benefit obligations
Discount rate	3.38%	3.45%
Rates of compensation increase used to determine the benefit obligations - methodology	the range of 1.75% to 3.90% reflecting expected inflation levels and future outlook
Rate of projected compensation increase	2.48%	2.44%
Equity securities	32.00%
Debt and fixed income assets	62.00%
Other	6.00%
Contributions by employer	7,400,000	5,500,000
Expected total contribution to the defined benefit pension plans for the fiscal year 2012	9,500,000
Post-Retirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Discount rates used to determine the benefit obligations - methodology	based on the yields of high quality zero-coupon corporate bonds with maturities that match the expected durations of the benefit obligations
Discount rate	3.90%	4.40%
Estimated increase in service and interest cost components due to one percentage point increase in assumed health care cost trend rates	19,000
Estimated increase in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to one percentage point increase in assumed health care cost trend rates	415,000
Estimated decrease in service and interest cost components due to one percentage point decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates	17,000
Estimated decrease in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to one percentage point decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates	374,000
Contributions by employer	500,000	500,000
Expected total contribution to the defined benefit pension plans for the fiscal year 2012	500,000
Retained Earnings [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Adoption of measurement date provision of ASC 715			122,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Retirement Plans [Line Items]
Adoption of measurement date provision of ASC 715			$ 69,000