Information Security first for the NHS

PRESS RELEASE

28 November 2002

In a first for the National Health Service BSI has accredited the Dental Practice Board to the Information Security Standard BS 7799.

The DPB, which provides a payment, treatment authorisation and quality audit service for NHS dentistry, is the first organization within the NHS to achieve this coveted accreditation.

Ian Cooper, Data Manager for the DPB commented: "We take information security seriously so it was a natural thing for us to want to comply with this British Standard. I am delighted that our hard work over the past twelve months preparing for the assessment has been rewarded. This was a team effort involving all our staff and our IT and data capture suppliers."

Registration to BS 7799 provides positive benefits to organizations, particularly in today's legal and regulatory framework. It helps businesses and public sector organizations to be more efficient by reducing the disruption and expense of recovering from potential information losses or misuse. It also reassures existing and potential customers and business partners.

Commenting on the registration BSI Management System's New Business Manager, Hitesh Mistry, said: "A lot of hard work has been put into achieving this registration and it is clear that the DPB's management team are committed to the operation and maintenance of the Information Security Management Systems."

The DPB's Chief Executive, John Taylor, commented: "In the relentless pursuit of improvement, we combine public service ethos with commercial sector efficiency. We aim to be the benchmark for public management and so I am delighted that we have achieved this important strategic milestone."