General EDI Questions

Requirements for practices without N3 installed

Stage 1 – Practice survey

The first stage involves a visit to your practice by Dacoll (business partner for dental N3 connections) to carry out a survey. This is to determine and agree networking required and where it will be sited. The survey should take around 30 minutes to complete.

Stage 2 – Installation of practice network

The second stage involves Dacoll supplying power and computer network points to positions identified during the practice survey. This may take up to half a day, depending on the complexity of the work.

Stage 3 – Installation of N3

This stage requires two visits to your practice by British Telecom, who will contact you directly to arrange dates.

On the first visit, a communication cable will be provided at the point identified during the survey. The second visit will be a technical installation of the hardware (a router) required to connect to N3.

Requirements for All Practices

Stage 4 – Connection of N3 to your clinical system

This stage is to connect your clinical system to N3 and test EDI functionality. This will involve access to each computer on the network and the server (where applicable). The system will need to be shut down for a short period of time and antivirus software will be installed on each computer. If recommended at the time of the practice survey, Dacoll will also supply and install a firewall.

This visit may take up to half a day depending on the size of the network.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is N3?

N3 is the secure NHS network that enables communication between Hospitals, General Practitioners and other healthcare providers. N3 offers up to 8Meg line speed, access to the internet, NHSmail and the EDI service.

Will the service be secure?

Yes. N3 is a secure system with strict protocols for access. Traffic on N3 for dentists is outgoing only so there is no access into your practice system (all connections need to be initiated by the practice).

I have an existing practice system with internet access, will it be connected to N3?

Yes, subject to the connection criteria as specified in the code and practice for connection of dental practices to N3 Scotland. This means having to remove your own broadband connection. This will then allow you to continue to send EDI claims, access the internet and NHSmail via N3 instead.

What if there is no accessible power point near the desired location?

New power sockets will be provided at the agreed location for the router. This will be discussed at the practice survey.

What other resources can I access?

The following are examples of the early benefits that an N3 connection can provide. This is not an exhaustive list:

• Send/receive EDI files and messages;
• Send clinical data securely to, for example, fellow dentists, hospitals and General Practitioners (GP) using NHSmail;
• Remote support/backup (where available from your supplier);
• Access to the internet;
• Send SMS text message reminders to patients about appointments;
• Access dental training or research material on the internet;
• Access dental supplies web sites and order supplies for your practice (assuming your supplier has a web site with online ordering);
• Email a GP colleague to find out more about a patient's medical history.

Can I only email people who are also on NHSmail?

No, you can email anyone with an email address, regardless of whether it is an nhs.net address or not. However, you should only send confidential data to other NHSmail addresses. Non NHSmail addresses are not secure.

EDI costs

The table below provides information on the costs depending on the different scenarios.

Scenario	Costs
New practice to NHS New practice is defined as “a practice which has not existed before, for instance where a new dentist to the area has opened a completely new practice or where an existing dentist in the area opens a completely new practice” A practice which has relocated or an existing practice which has been purchased by a new dentist is not classed as a new practice.	Provision of N3 fully funded by the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSC) for both initial and recurring N3 costs. Where a firewall is recommended, a maintenance cost of £40 per year is required to be paid by the practice. EDI grant for new NHS practices available.
Existing practice that does not have an N3 connection. Definition – Practice which existed prior to June 2009 without an N3 connection.	Provision of N3 fully funded by SGHSC for both initial and recurring N3 costs. Where a firewall is recommended, a maintenance cost of £40 per year is required to be paid by the practice. EDI grant will now only be made available to new practices to the NHS.
Existing practice that does have an N3 connection. Definition – Practice which existed prior to June 2009 with an N3 connection.	Provision of N3 fully funded by SGHSC for both initial and recurring N3 costs. Where a firewall is recommended, a maintenance cost of £40 per year is required to be paid by the practice. EDI grant will now only be made available to new practices to the NHS.
Existing practice that is moving with an N3 connection.	Contact our Helpdesk.