Healthcare Computing has announced that it has become one of the first non-NHS organisations to gain NHS Connecting for Health accreditation for its service desk.
The company said the accreditation for its ITIL-based service desk means local CfH users can be directed to it rather than to a national service desk for IT queries.
Healthcare Computing said the CfH Service Desk Accreditation process was rigorous and based on the ITIL best practice framework, with organisations required to complete 40 national accreditation criteria before being considered.
The company said its team was able to demonstrate these criteria had been met and to show evidence of best practice with an understanding of the NHS as well as a detailed understanding of local, National Programme for IT in the NHS and local service provider applications.
Richard Hiett, service manager of Healthcare Computing, said: “We are delighted to be one of the first private companies to gain NHS CfH Service Desk Accreditation which is a reflection of our serious commitment to our customers and their requirements.”
The company said its customers will benefit directly from the accreditation. Its service desk can now communicate directly with CfH’s Service Bridge, which the company said would mean any critical incidents affecting central services and patient care could be escalated immediately.
It said there were also now direct routes of escalation to service providers such as BT and ATOS which it said would enable a more efficient handling of incidents requiring the involvement of central service providers.