This information sheet provides an overview of how we are delivering national technology services, including Spine Services, NHSmail and the Summary Care Record (SCR). We are commissioned by NHS England and the Department of Health to manage informatics projects and programmes that support clinical decision making, NHS working practice and improved patient outcomes.

1. Delivering national
technology services
We are commissioned by NHS England and the Department of Health to manage
informatics projects and programmes that support clinical decision making, NHS
working practice and improved patient outcomes.
Spine Services
The Spine connects clinicians, patients and local
service providers through a collection of national
applications, essential services and directories
that underpin the NHS in England, including the
Electronic Prescription Service, Summary Care
Record and Choose and Book. It also holds the
demographic information of 80 million people.
In August 2014, we replaced the original Spine
infrastructure which was over ten years old with a new
Spine system. The new platform has been built using
agile development and open source technology;
it will improve overall performance and reduce the
costs of operation and future changes in functionality.
For more details on Spine Services visit
www.hscic.gov.uk/spine
Health and Social Care
Network
We manage the current N3 service supplier, BT, in
providing network connectivity, infrastructure and
service management for the health and social care
sector. Following a recent strategic review, the
Health and Social Care Network programme has
been commissioned to develop the options for the
future service when the N3 contract comes to an
end (as the former PSNH programme had intended
to do), and also examine wider options for providing
connectivity to the NHS and care organisations into
a longer term digital future.
CSC Local Service Provider
Exit and Delivery Programme
Local Service Provider (LSP) contracts deliver critical
systems and services to the NHS. They are used by
490,000 NHS staff in 256 NHS trusts across England.
Our LSP delivery team works closely with suppliers
and NHS trusts to ensure the remaining life of these
contracts are delivered successfully. Work is also
underway to support a smooth transition once the
existing contracts come to an end.
The CSC LSP Delivery Programme manages the
contract to introduce IT products and services across
to NHS organisations in the North, Midlands and
East of England. As this contract approaches its
end in July 2016 (for the majority of its delivered
services), we’ll be supporting trusts to plan for
successful exit and transition.
Contact the CSC LSP exit team
CSCexit@hscic.gov.uk
NHSmail
NHSmail provides a secure email service, calendar,
directory, fax and SMS service to organisations
commissioned to deliver healthcare in England and
Scotland. It is a business critical service used by more
than 500,000 staff on a daily basis in England. NHSmail
is scheduled to be refreshed and significantly
upgraded during 2014-15, and is centrally funded to
continue as a national service until at least 2019.
For more about NHSmail and future
developments: www.hscic.gov.uk/nhsmail
www.hscic.gov.uk 0300 303 5678
@hscic enquiries@hscic.gov.uk
Copyright © 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre 1

2. Delivering national technology services
Summary Care Record
Summary Care Records (SCRs) are secure, electronic
patient records that contain key information about
a patient’s medication, allergies and any previous
adverse reactions to medicines. Other important
information, such as significant medical history, can be
added with the patient’s consent.
SCRs provide fast access to key clinical information
in emergency and unplanned care scenarios,
where a patient’s information would otherwise be
unavailable. They are invaluable when somebody
cannot give information for themselves (e.g. if they are
unconscious) or if they are taken ill away from home
and are unable to see their own GP. Healthcare staff
report that they are able to make more informed,
confident diagnostic or treatment recommendations
when viewing a patient’s SCR.
Find out more about the benefits of SCRs
www.hscic.gov.uk/scr
GP2GP
This service allows patients’ electronic health records
to be transferred directly and securely between
GP practices. It improves patient care by providing
GPs with full and detailed medical records for a
new patient’s first consultation. The future version
of GP2GP will also support ceasing the printing of
patient record summaries.
A GP2GP survey found that 92 per cent of clinicians
agreed that the electronic health record (EHR) helps
to inform and support the clinical decision-making
process as to what medication to prescribe to the
patient. 89 per cent also agreed that having access to
the EHR at a first consultation improved the patient
experience when they join a new practice.
For more information on GP2GP go to
www.hscic.gov.uk/gp2gp
GP Systems of Choice
GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) is a contractual
framework which supplies IT systems and services to
GP practices and associated organisations in England.
We are currently expanding the range of products
available on the framework and working to facilitate
interoperability between applications. The new
GPSoC framework will also offer patients access to a
range of online services, including:
• access to their own record or, as a carer, access to
someone else’s record with their permission.
• booking and cancelling appointments online,
using their computer or an application on their
mobile phone.
• ordering repeat prescriptions online.
Find out more about the new GPSoC
framework: www.hscic.gov.uk/gpsoc
Electronic Prescription Service
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) enables
prescribers to send prescriptions electronically to
a dispenser (such as a pharmacy) of the patient’s
choice. This makes the prescribing and dispensing
process much more efficient and convenient for
patients and staff. If EPS was adopted by all GP
practices it has the potential to save the NHS £179
million per year. That equates to £11,000 per year for
an average sized GP practice.
Find out more about how EPS can help your
organisation: www.hscic.gov.uk/eps
09/14
www.hscic.gov.uk 0300 303 5678
@hscic enquiries@hscic.gov.uk
Copyright © 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre 2