Rob Tweed wrote:
>
> >In any case, the BMA position is still that connecting clinical systems
> >to the NHSnet is unethical.
>
> This is an interesting paraphrasing of the position as I understand
> it. Connection of clinical systems to NHSnet is surely no more or
> less unethical that connecting them to the Internet or Racal
> HealthLink or a dial-up modem - methinks its the rather larger issues
> relating to policies on what information should be exchanged and who
> should be the guardians/owners of that info etc that are the source
> of BMA concern, not the transport medium.
>
> If adequate security and confidentiality measures/framworks etc are
> put in place, as per the many recent discussions here on this topic,
> then the ability to provide controlled wide area access to clinical
> systems has many potential benefits (and I'm not talking straight
> financial one here). The next interesting question then is whether
> under such circumstances NHSnet is a necessary transport medium or
> whether other wide area networking, the Internet even, would be OK.
> The way things are moving in the Internet world, the technical
> solutions required to meet the BMAs concerns will, I suspect, be
> unlikely to need a dedicated "secure" network.
Absolutely right - there is no business case for NWN or NHSnet - just
good, secure communication (via internet etc) using strong encryption.
PGP would do fine - even Red Pike's 64 bit solution is reasonable -
though it does need some serious testing.
--
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*Alan Hassey email [log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]*
* http://www.midwife.demon.co.uk/ >>>>>> PGP public key available*
* GP, GP Trainer & GP Computer Adviser (NYHA), Skipton, N. Yorks.*
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