NHS to test contactless smartcards

Chances of disease spreading less likely without physical contact

Cards will not need to make contact

The NHS is to run a trial of contactless smartcard readers that will grant access to IT systems without needing to be physically touched, helping to prevent the spread of disease.

Connecting for Health (CfH), which runs a large part of the £12.7bn National Programme for IT, has issued a tender for readers requesting prices for up to 100,000 devices to be delivered over three years.

An initial 100-reader trial will take place at an undisclosed NHS trust.

“A key requirement of the contract is ensuring that the product we procure is capable of being easily and effectively cleaned to reduce the risk of that piece of equipment acting as a vector for the transmission of germs, bacteria and infection and reducing the risk of infection,” said the tender document.

The NHS has recently purchased Philips smartcards for all staff who work with the existing “touch” card readers, but they have the capability to work with the new contactless devices.

“NHS CfH has been looking to acquire proximity smartcard readers for some time but the appropriate technology has only just become available,” said a CfH spokesman.