Guidance on achieving the NHS Plan target of December 2004, whereby, "a phone call to NHS Direct will be a one-stop gateway to out-of-hours healthcare, with callers, where necessary, seamlessly transferred to the appropriate out of hours provider" has been recently published.

The guidance clarifies the difference between the NHS Plan target, for which establishment of technical links is essential, and the goal of achieving full clinical integration of OOH services. It explains the registration process for OOH providers wishing to establish technical links with NHS Direct in line with the NHS Plan target. It also sets out the criteria for OOH providers involved in the technical links project need to meet and a time scale for them to meet it. The document also gives the roles and responsibilities for PCTs and StHAs.

In response to this, the Department of Health has set up a Technical Links Project. The project will be lead by an experienced project team. The team will be promoting the development of an appropriate network of OOH providers who will be able to link electronically with NHS Direct. This will ensure that by December 2004 the appropriate electronic links will be in place so that full clinical integration with NHS Direct will be possible by December 2006. In addition to this, electronic integration will be connected with wider work streams and Carson Review recommendations. The project team will set criteria for OOH Providers participating in the project whilst managing and funding the progress of those successfully meeting the criteria.

The project will be steered by a Project Board, which includes PCT StHA and NAGPC representation. Progress reports will be available here as the project moves on.