THE health service in Waltham Forest has been chosen to be part of a pilot scheme looking at linking up systems between polyclinics.

NHS Waltham Forest and NHS Westminster will work together on linking existing systems being used in primary and community care in the capital.

This includes GP systems from suppliers EMIS and INPS, the RiO community and mental health systems.

The project is set to run until March 2010 according to Healthcare for London.

The results will be shared throughout London and the project is aimed at helping to provide delivering better integrated information services.

It is set to create 'polysystems' which Healthcare for London defines as consisting of a 'polyclinic hub' with GP practices working in a network.

Key challenges were identified for the project including creating a single reception booking system able to book appointments across all polyclinic services.

NHS Waltham Forest has already opened a polyclinic in Oliver Road, Leyton.

It was one of the first to open in London and is run by a consortium of GPs through Forest Community Health and Partnership of East London Co-operative (PELC).

NHS Westminster expects to open the first of four planned polyclinics around the end of the year.