>
>So the reality is that NHS GP practices are tied to NHSnet. I do wonder,
>however, what would happen if a practice asserted the lack of functionality
>in NHSnet and pulled out of it (want to try, Midge?). And what if a group of
>practices decided to pull out?
>
>Laurie Miles
We may link our clinical system, but we have resisted so far. We have a
single, stand alone computer connected to NHSNet. In this we are of course
alone accept perhaps for a few luddites and I'm not sure, for the reasons
that you assert, that it is tenable, though actually it's not obvious that
it's been a significant disadvantage so far either.
There is life outside NHSNet.
The downsides are pretty obvious:
No electronic transfer of registration, path or radiology from clinical
system to PCT / Hospital etc.
The positives are that we can use reliable email which doesn't all have to
pass through a server at the local hospital (that's the local arrangement),
and that usage of our clinical system is governed by our policies not
theirs, and the data on patients and staff alike is _a little_ more secure.
FWIW our clinical system isn't connected to the Internet either and given
the choice I wouldn't allow even our system supplier dial in access (but we
do).
Internet access in surgery can be through a separate computer with a
separate phone line. In the grand scheme of things the costs are actually
minimal.
Julian
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