The hardware we should have is a PC per person (WTE) on a 10 MBit/s
network capable of carrying TCP/IP, with a backup device.

End of story.

The _software_ we should have is of two sorts:-
	software we own 

	software we are given to do a job somebody wants us to do, and which
as a 
	profession we have agreed to do.

end of story

Reviewing the ownership of software, and a little of hardware, leasing
is one way of owning it which seems to be getting more respectable.
In fact it has certain advantages over the arangements we have at
present.

Leasing a system specified to provide certain functionaliy to the PCG
as a whole, knowledge service at points of care, records etc, for 5
years, gives us the interesting opportunity to make a step change - or
to look at the vastly improved replacement after 5 years and lease that.

Next quinquennium, as the WAN between the surgeries in the PCG is
broadened from T1 (1.5 to 2.048 MBit/s) to Internet version 2 or some
such at 10 MBit/s) and as the volumes of data increase, we may specify
a 100 MBit/s network within the buildings.
No need to buy it now unless you want several streamed video
telemedicine sessions to go on at once in the same building.

Q.  You missed out ISDN 64 k for NHS Net?
Nope.  Stacking ISDN2e pairs to give 128 256 384k connections might be
a makeshift in a few areas where neither wireless networking nor
fibreoptic connectins can be provided for a few months or a year.

Q.  No, no how about _NHS Net (r) (t) (c)_ the very wonderful centrally
administered all things to all sophonts solution we have been waiting
for?
How _about_ it, Prodnose?
Too little, too late, too badly run, too expensive.  ISDN too





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