Technical Readiness

The successful implementation of the Choose and Book application within a local healthcare community is dependent upon a number of technical components. The components commonly used to make a successful booking (PDF, 417Kb) diagram provides a high-level overview of these local components, whose implementation needs to be planned and coordinated.

The following sections provide guidance to local implementation teams on the technical activities that are required to support the implementation of Choose and Book in a local healthcare setting.

Desktop components and local connectivity

Version 8.4 of the Choose and Book install reference document (PDF 797kb) is now available to provide guidance on preparing local desktops for running the Choose and Book web application. The document contains guidance for:

• Desktop Infrastructure & recommended minimum PC specification
• Installation of the Identity Agent
• Connectivity
• Common technical issues
• Common performance issues

Local sites should use this document to aid:

• Checks to undertake before go-live
• Checks to undertake when performance issues or errors are found
• Checks to undertake when connectivity problems are found

Please note the content of this document does not change the official Identity Agent installation guidance held at http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/implementation/deployment/downloads

Registration user roles & smartcards

All healthcare professionals will need to be registered and issued with a smartcard to access the Choose and Book application. Full information on the registration process is available from the Registration Authority web pages (N3 connection required).

When you are registered by your local Registration Authority, they will create for you a role profile. A role profile consists of a job role (i.e. what you do, such as a GP), an organisation (i.e. where you do it, such as Haringey PCT) and, if you wish to use the Choose and Book application, a Choose and Book business function (e.g. a referring clinician).

The Overview of Choose and Book business functions (N3 access required) (PDF, 86Kb) document provides full information of the Choose and Book business functions and the activities that each business function can perform. Please note that Choose and Book business functions added to a card are activated in the Choose and Book system overnight.

N3

N3 is the integrated data network for the NHS. It is a combination of broadband connections and network services that link NHS sites in England.

An installed N3 connection is required to access the Choose and Book application as well as supporting national services (for example user authentication).

For full information on N3 please see www.n3.nhs.uk

Technical Reference Documents

CAB Data Dictionary HTML v1.21 (273Kb) Last updated 2011-05-11

CAB Data Dictionary XML v1.21 (208Kb) Last updated 2011-05-11

Choose and Book Compliance Document (PDF, 850Kb)