Manchester-based reseller ANS Group has been chosen to implement an email encryption system for the South West Strategic Health Authority.

Implementing a Cisco IronPort solution, which will be in operation across the county in six NHS trusts, emails will be encrypted when sent between trusts without changes having to be made to the users’ experience.

External users wanting to read emails from any of the trusts have to access a website to decrypt it.

Paul Sweeney, managing director of ANS Group, said: “The NHS is under increasing pressure to protect confidential information and put in place rigorous measure to minimise the risk of data loss.

“Through our extensive work implementing and supporting various systems for the NHS, we have built a thorough understanding of the specific needs of the healthcare sector. We are pleased to have been able to help the South West Strategic Health Authority to fulfil its responsibilities, and look forward to working closely with Brian and the rest of the team in the future.”

The system supports primary care trusts (PCTs) when complying with the Connecting for Health Policy, which sets out standards for the encryption of email and data loss prevention.

Brian Stalker, IT manager at Dorset County Hospital, said: “The IronPort Solution has enabled us to meet Connecting for Health Policy and ensures that all information in transit is secure.”

The six trusts covered by the system are Dorset PCT, Bournemouth and Poole PCT, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Poole Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

These are linked up to the Somerset network, which has also implemented the solution.