Health Service Circular 1998/168 formally launched ‘Information for Health - an information strategy for the Modern NHS’.

The strategy included some key deliverables as follows :

• lifelong Electronic Health Records for every person in the country;
  
• round-the-clock on-line access to patient records and support on best clinical practice, for all NHS clinicians;
  
• a National Electronic Library for Health to keep doctors, nurses and other clinical professionals up to date with the latest clinical research and best practice at the time they need it;
  
• integrated care for patients through GPs, hospitals and community services sharing information across the NHS information highway;
  
• fast and convenient public access to information, advice and care through online services and telemedicine;
  
• more effective use of NHS resources by providing NHS planners and managers with the information they need.
  

Each Health Authority is required to establish a Local Implementation Strategy Programme Board, with the responsibility of developing the national targets into Local Implementation Strategies.