Connecting for Health is the countrywide IT programme for improving the NHS (National Health Service). The NHS is improving its healthcare and efficiency by implementing advanced computer systems and communication technology to provide a better service and more effective patient care.

1.Connecting for Health is currently the world’s largest civil IT programme and Connecting for Health is improving efficiency and effectiveness in all areas of information sharing and record keeping in the NHS. Connecting for health will ensure that the medical records of all 60 million NHS patients in the UK are stored electronically.

2.Connecting for Health will improve all aspects of patient care, such as allowing a dentist to see what medication a patient has been prescribed by their GP, or whether the patient has recently undergone an operation. Patient records can be accessed and transferred within a few seconds, rather than the days or even weeks for this information to be between departments before the Connecting for Health programme.

3.The Connecting for Health Choose and Book system allows GPs and patients to decide the best time and place for their appointment, with a choice of at least 4 hospitals. Doctors can help decide the most appropriate hospital based on the patient’s needs, meaning that appointments are now much more convenient. If the patient’s circumstances change, the appointment can be changed or cancelled online, or via telephone, which will dramatically reduce the number of people who don’t turn up for their appointment. Choose and Book means that patients no longer need to wait weeks for their appointments. Up to 24 000 patients a day are choosing the most convenient time and location for their appointment thanks to Choose and Book.

4.The Electronic Prescriptions Service (EPS) system will allow every doctor’s surgery to send patients’ prescriptions directly to pharmacies. Patients can also have their prescription sent to a pharmacy of their choice. As EPT progresses, paper prescriptions will be phased out. Currently around 70% of prescriptions are repeat prescriptions. Connecting for Health also means that patients don’t need to visit their doctor’s surgery to obtain a prescription for their medication. Currently, around 1.5 million electronic prescriptions a week are received from GPs.

5.As well as the benefits for GPs, hospital staff will see enormous improvements. For example, the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) allow images such as X-rays and ultrasound scans to be stored digitally and so available immediately, no matter where they are needed. Previously, according to the NHS, up to 1 in 5 X-Rays went missing.

6.Over 15 000 staff undertake a rigorous training and registration programme, every month, so they can have secure access to more information about the patients in their care.

7.One of the priorities of the Connecting for Health programme is to make sure that the NHS meets current and future staff and patient requirements. Computers and IT are increasingly used on wards and electronic patient records are rapidly replacing handwritten bundles of notes.

8.The National Network for the NHS (N3) broadband network connects all NHS locations, and other locations that provide NHS care together. Data and Images such as X-rays and scans can now be transferred between hospitals in seconds. Previously if patient records or scans were needed, they would often have had to be delivered by courier or taxi.

9.Thanks to the impressive broadband system, Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone calls are can now be made. This means that phone calls between departments, hospitals and other NHS locations are free. This massive cost saving, combined with reduced call rates from landline to mobile phones, will save over £20m according to the Connecting for Health N3 programme director.

10.Patients who change their doctor have their notes transferred within seconds, rather than the usual 6 weeks or more. As well as being more efficient, patient data is much more secure, and less likely to get lost in transit.

Connecting For Health is moving along rapidly, and providing better care than ever for patients, better and more appropriate systems and procedures for medical staff, and saving the NHS over £120 million each year.

System C is heavily involved in the Connecting for Health programme, and works alongside NHS Trusts and Local Service Providers. Find out more about Healthcare Systems designed for the NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) designed to benefit both the patients and staff.