> From:          [log in to unmask]
> Date:          Wed, 2 Oct 1996 16:21:12 -0400
> To:            [log in to unmask]
> Subject:       Re: NHSnet/Internet gateway
> Reply-to:      [log in to unmask]

> I have seen in passing in several NHS magazines a mention of NHSnet but
> unfortunately it did not follow this up by explaining exactly what it was
> for.   Could someone explain what, why and how please?  Thanks.
>

What is it for ???  A very good question. NHS.net is the big idea of
having a secure, private wide area network, or more specifically,
intranet (a WAN using internet technologies) for all folk who work for the NHS or with the NHS or are at
all connected in any way with the NHS and can conform to the Code of
Connection and can fund the equipment and can fund the maintenance
and the training and the time to read the details  and then assess
its value, and see a benefit and NOT be out of pocket at the end of
the day, and yet somehow deliver better patient care over the desk at
9am on a Monday morning.  Because we have better access to
information.  Hmmmmm......


It could work, but it is horribly, horribly, complicated so far.

"Why" is because it *could* bring substantial benefits, if it works,
and if we use it.  With secure networking (and I mean SECURE (you
have to keep shouting it)) we
could be able to grab patient records of the net of our new patients,
say, or arrange out patient appointments in the surgery that day,
there and then, or find out the latest protocol for treating athletes
foot, or hear about OCP scares at the same time as the press.  I
particularly liked an e-mail on objects and networks some time ago,
which implied that with the development of semi-intelligent agents
(of which the newest are just arriving for the internet) we will be
able to pass patient profiles off to remote databases, and have
returned best suggested treatments.  Can't though remember who sent
that, perhaps somone could remind me - the message will be in the
archives, no doubt.

So that is why.  Of more relevance, I feel, is do GPs want it ?
Certainly seems difficult to convince my colleagues of the potential
benefits.  Also the ongoiung security saga is spoiling the party,
somewhat.

How ??  Dunno.  First get your PC. Then get a form signed up to the
Code of Connection (akin to the ten commandments, only more
prohibitive <g>).  Then sign a contract with a supplier (in Scotland
 Mercury currently, BT too soon we hear).  Then pays your dosh and
takes what you like of it.  Except, there isn't much on it yet, and
all this stuff about what would be useful doesn't seem to have
happened yet.

But it will.  Although it seems like inTERnet technologies are fast
overtaking it.

The scariest thing, I find, is that this is a *huge* project, that
could (will?) substantially change how we work, and yet so many folk
seem to know so little about it.

So there you are.  Clear as mince.

Paul

Dr Paul Miller
Bridgeton Health Centre, Glasgow
http://users.colloquium.co.uk/~p_miller/index.htm


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