§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the development of NHSnet; and if he will make a statement. [108212]
§ Ms StuartNHSnet is the National Health Service's own secure internal network for voice and data services. It already links most NHS trusts and health authorities, and a proportion of GP practices. Increasingly it will become the main vehicle for communications between the Department and the NHS, and between and within NHS organisations. Development plans include
to connect all computerised general practitioner practices with full e-mail and internet accessto use NHSnet for appointment booking, referrals, discharge information, radiology and laboratory requests and results in all parts of the countryto open a national electronic Library for Health with accredited clinical reference material on NHSnet to support clinical decision-makingin the longer term to support the development of telemedicine services between hospitals and GP surgeries.