Plans have been announced for building an NHS Net which will bring the same sort of benefits to patients as information technology has brought to bank customers and airline passenger. NHS Net will be an information superhighway linking hospitals, GPs and other health care organisations. It will cost £150m.By the end of 1999 a patient’s test results could be available to a GP as soon as they are ready rather than spending a day or more in the post. Administrative procedures will be speeded up and made more efficient. This will mean that hospital appointments will be booked quicker and more easily. GPs will also be able to share information, disseminate good practice and spread new ideas.

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