Background to N3 - The NHS National Network
N3 is the name for the NHS National Network. N3 provides: Fast broadband networking services to the NHS offering reliability and value for money; best value overlay services such as N3 VoIP and N3 Video Conferencing.
N3 is as important to the NHS as road and rail networks are to our daily lives. The high speed network makes it possible to deliver the reforms and new services needed to improve patient care, such as:
- Choose and Book
- Electronic Prescription Service
- Summary Care Records
- Picture Archiving and Communications System (the transfer of digital images such as X-rays and scans)
N3 is vital to providing the essential technical infrastructure through which benefits to patients, clinicians and the NHS can be realised.
N3 supports several Government policies and initiatives, including modernising public services and creating a knowledge economy based on information and communications technology.
Services are regularly renewed to deliver best value so the NHS doesn't get fixed into old technologies.