BT has been selected by the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) service in the South East of England to provide cloud-based IT services that will benefit both patients and healthcare providers working in the NHS.
The telecoms giant will implement a cloud-based platform enabling GPs and other providers across 24 trusts in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Sussex and Kent to access patient data securely over its high-speed ethernet network.
Healthcare providers will be able to access the applications and services they need to modernise their practices, including a full suite of digital voice services, videoconferencing, superfast fibre broadband and high-speed Wi-Fi as part of the five-year deal.
"Secure, flexible,high speed connections are increasingly critical to delivering efficient, timely and patient-focused care," said Danny Longbottom, director of local government and health at BT
"We're proud to be working in partnership with NHS Digital to offer a huge range of services to eligible NHS Trusts and CCGs across the South East under this new contract, including embedded security enhanced features an absolute must when dealing with sensitive patient data and relying on cloud-based applications."
One of the major resources GPs will have is the ability to access online patient care records and enable patients to book appointments online, using its "choose and book" service.
In addition to providing many of the technologies the trusts require, BT will also help practices roll out the technology as part of its managed service provider offering. This means staff at the surgeries won't have to be involved and they can get on with the day-to-day running of their organisations.
