First customer connects to Health and Social Care Network

The Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) has officially launched with its first customer, NHS Digital has announced.

The digital dictation and clinical records management firm, Crescendo Systems, became the first organisation to gain access to HSCN.

HSCN, which has been designed and built by NHS Digital, is the successor to the N3 network and connects the health and social care system through a private network and internet from a choice of suppliers. It aims to offer an efficient way for health and social care organisations to access and exchange patient records and other electronic information.

NHS organisations including Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Devon Doctors are expecting to go live with HSCN this winter.

MLL Telecom is one of 15 suppliers that is already compliant with HSCN. MLL Telecom organised Crescendo’s connection with HSCN.

There is expected to be a gradual increase in organisations moving over from N3 to HSCN, with all organisations aiming to benefit from the network by August 2020.

The network was tested alongside NHS applications such as the Spine portal, Summary Care Records, Lorenzo, eReferrals and Electronic Prescription Service at a number of NHS pilot sites over a three-month period before going live.

Organisations that have been previously connected to N3 are developing plans to move to HSCN over the next year.

Tom Denwood, senior responsible owner for the HSCN Programme at NHS Digital, said: “HSCN represents a fantastic opportunity for health and social care integration right across the sector and will allow organisations to collaborate together more closely which will have a huge benefit for citizen care. It is a brilliant example of new technology meeting the demands of a modern and forward-thinking NHS.

“The successful launch sends out the message that HSCN is now open for business and there are so many great benefits that organisations can take advantage of by signing up for the service.”

Dermot Ryan, Director of the HSCN Programme at NHS Digital, said: “The first connection to the new Health and Social Care Network is a critical milestone in the journey towards patient centred care. Fundamental to this success has been the excellent collaboration between the telecoms industry, customers and NHS Digital.

“We now look forward to more organisations taking advantage of the innovation, cost savings and enhanced security capabilities of the network and to creating a thriving market for network services in health and social care.