GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC)
Microtest have been closely working with the NHS Connecting for Health 'GP Systems of Choice' Team (GPSoC) for over 2 years on the GPSoC Contract.
GPSoC represents the most comprehensive review of GP Suppliers and their systems ever undertaken by the NHS with the review board being made up of representatives from NHS Connecting for Health, strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, GP User Groups (with representatives from all GP Systems), GPs and Practice Managers.
The GPSoC Review Panel investigated and compared;
- GP System Suppliers
- their services
- their systems
- performance
- system specifications
- system features
- functionality offered
- supplier support
- costs.
There were five stages to the initial review plus a final stage and I am glad to be able to report that Microtest came out in first place in each of them. Microtest achieved the highest score and were awarded a final weighted score of 86%, (some 15% above the nearest competitor).
The work on the contract came to completion on 7th September 2007 when Microtest became one of the first GP System Suppliers to sign and to be awarded an NHS GP Systems of Choice Contract.
Throughout the GPSoC period we have received telephone calls, letters and e-mails from many practices offering their support and encouragement. I would like to thank you all for your support.
I am also glad to be able to report that GPSoC has brought with it an increased influx of practices wanting to join us from most other system suppliers in many different parts of the country. If you have a practice near you looking at new systems, please feel to put them in touch with us at Microtest.
As we move forward into GPSoC, much of the work that we have invested over the last months will start bearing fruit. The help desk is open from 7.30am and operates until 7pm on week days and from 9.00am until 2.00pm on Saturdays. These hours will soon be increased to 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 07.30am to 2pm Saturdays but the same skeletal out of hours service will continue to operate out of these hours.
From the beginning of 2008, Microtest practices have been able to access details of their helpdesk calls via the support zone on the Microtest Web Page. The support zone will also provide on-line information on software upgrades and known issues with software. Also training and support materials are being increased planned release dates for software will also be displayed, including a Road Map of all software upgrades and enhancements for a rolling period of a year.