The NHS Information Authority’s Industry Liaison team has launched a new website designed to enable suppliers and would be suppliers of ICT to the NHS to submit electronic business cards.
Called the ‘B2B Business Card System’ the site allows suppliers to get basic information about their organisation added, that is then searchable under a series of headings. So far the site remains pristine with only one supplier listed.
The site requires no log-in to use but has a rather cumbersome mechanism for allowing suppliers to add their details. Rather than post data electronically firms must write on headed paper to the NHSIA’s Industry Liaison team to first request a user name and password.
The NHSIA says the notice board service is available to suppliers and organisations providing healthcare within the NHS. It adds the disclaimer that inclusion of any product or service does not imply the NHS Information Authority’s endorsement of that product or service.
At the time of writing the site only had one firm listed – Capula-Elan. Information listed for each firm can include: contact details; whether it is listed in NHSCat-IT, S-CAT or GCAT; a brief description of products and services; and details of reference sites.
Hardware for the site was donated by Sun Microsystems and the system was developed by Logica.
For further information contact David Rodrick, Industry Liaison Manager, NHS Information Authority, Aqueous II, Aston Cross, Rocky Lane, Birmingham, B6 5RQ. david.rodrick@nhsia.nhs.uk.