References and further reading Background Reading commentary within the Wisdom environment and from conversations on the subject, it appears that there is some misunderstanding about what NHSnet is and what it's used for. It can be difficult locating information about NHSnet, and what is involved in getting linked. At Woodhouse Medical Centre in Sheffield, we've had an NHSnet link for a month or so now as part of a national pilot, so we have some experience of actually using it.
Some history is useful in explaining the makeup of the network.
As one of the more mature of the regional networks prior to the inception of NHSnet, the development of the Trent regional network is a good case in point. The imperative was one of cost reduction by rationalisation of hospital inventories. In the early 1990's the various regional networks were linked to form an NHS-wide network. Still the network is largely used by NHS Supplies, the Clearing House and the ambulance services. As an aside, there is some misuse of terminology here.