Two private companies have been chosen to help third sector providers and businesses connect to the N3 network.
InTechnology and Capita have been granted aggregator status by the HSCIC, which means they will help businesses connect to the N3 network.
The companies will provide secure connections to the network and enable third parties to supply services to hospitals and GPs.
Mark Hall, InTechnology’s divisional director for healthcare solutions, said this means the company will advise, help and support companies through the strict application process to become an N3 connected provider.
“For suppliers looking to connect to the NHS internal network this new process will provide the skills, resources and time often lacking internally,” he said.
“It will also provide assurance that all information governance and security regulations are being met.”
InTechnology also recently signed a contract with the HSCIC to build the infrastructure for the NHS e-referral service, which is due to go live in November this year.
Capita was the first to be chosen as an ‘aggregator’, in March this year. Andy Lockwood, managing director of Capita Healthcare Decisions said that widening access through these aggregated conenctions, creates “opportunities for trusts to locate shared services on highly resilient affordable infrastructure.
“N3 can now become the enabler for more innovative IT solutions. These could include video and telehealth diagnostic tools or better access to patient health information, like scans, x-rays and blood tests, for GPs and even, where appropriate, for patients themselves,” said Lockwood.
As with any organisation connected to N3, aggregator status is subject to compliance checks by the HSCIC.