You’ve got NHSmail: and an improved service is coming this year

The NHS’ own, secure email service, NHSmail, is moving onto the Microsoft Exchange 2007 platform. Users will benefit from a host of new features when this happens later this year.  

The NHS’ own, secure email service, NHSmail, was set up almost four years ago and now has more than a quarter of a million registered users.

When it was launched in October 2004, it was based on the best technology available at the time; but technology soon moves on.

So in 2006, NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH), the agency in charge of NHS IT, and Cable & Wireless, the organisation responsible for NHSmail, decided to look at whether better options were available.

The result was a decision to refresh NHSmail and move it onto the Microsoft Exchange 2007 platform, which will support new software that will not only allow users to pick up and send email, but use task lists, calendars and other useful functions. “Users will get some features that are not present in the webmail version of NHSmail at the moment, such as “auto-complete” email addresses and “drag and drop” for managing folders.”

Behind the scenes

Since the announcement was made last summer, NHS CFH, Cable & Wireless and Microsoft have been working on the technical aspects of what may be the largest enterprise email service of its kind anywhere in the world.

Space has been built for the servers that will run the new service, and work is going on to configure the hardware and software that will sit behind the service.

Meanwhile, Will Moss, programme head for NHSmail at NHS CFH says: “We have not forgotten the people who will need to use the new service. We have been putting together training that will be hosted by the NHS Resource Centre, which people will be able to access for free.”

A new look

When the new service is launched, web-users will still be able to access their NHSmail accounts through the NHSmail web pages (www.nhs.net). But when they do, they will automatically use Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access (OWA), a web-based version of the popular Outlook desktop software.

This means users will get some features that are not present in the webmail version of NHSmail at the moment, such as “auto-complete” email addresses (so they don’t have to type in someone’s entire email address every time they want to email them) and “drag and drop” for managing folders.

They will also get OWA’s other features. Or, at least, they will if they use a modern web-browser. The new service is designed to work with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and above. People using older or non-Microsoft browsers will get only a basic version of the service.

Testing, testing

Once the new service has been built, it will be rigorously tested. The project has a review panel with members drawn from across the NHS, including an IT manager, a nurse and a therapist.

“We have been going to the panel with questions as issues have come up,” says Mr Moss. “We will also be asking them to come in and really test the new system, to make sure everything works and nothing falls over.”

However, some NHS staff may wonder why the health service needs NHSmail. “People sometimes say to us ‘my trust has email, I have an email address, so what is this for’?” he adds. “As more and more organisations switch off their local email services and move to NHSmail, they will benefit from becoming part of a national service, improving communications and workflows across the NHS as a whole.”

“But this is a national system - not just a local one – and it is secure. NHSmail uses phenomenally secure servers and every message that is sent from one NHSmail address to another is encrypted in transit” (meaning that hackers would have to break a code to read it).

“NHSmail is the only email system endorsed by the Department of Health and the British Medical Association for the transfer of patient information. Other email systems are not – and confidential patient details should not be put into them.”

Indeed, another reason for moving NHSmail to its new platform is to encourage trusts to make NHSmail their only email system, and to make it easier for them to do so.

Access all areas

Users will also be able to access the new service from a desktop (PC), using Outlook. But because it can be accessed via the web, another advantage of NHSmail is that it can be used anywhere, as long as a user has a computer or mobile device with Internet access and an IE browser.

However, users have to first register for an NHSmail account from a computer connected to the NHS’ own secure network, N3. NHS staff can register now, and their account will simply roll-over to the new service when it is launched. Hopefully, this will be later this year.

“The transformation of NHSmail is an exciting project that will be hugely beneficial for users - the service will become much more functionally rich and easier to use,” promises Mr Moss. “But the benefits of NHSmail don’t just extend to individuals.

“As more and more organisations switch off their local email services and move to NHSmail, they will benefit from becoming part of a national service, improving communications and workflows across the NHS as a whole. Ultimately, that can only be a good thing for patients.”

Further Reading

- Find out more about NHSmail and register for an account (if you are using a computer linked to the NHS’ secure network, N3)

- Find out more about Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access and pick up handy tips and tricks for making email easier and more efficient

- The NHSmail refresh is being handled for Microsoft by its Common User Interface (CUI) programme. Find out more about the other work it is doing to make NHS IT easier and safer to use