Status/Messages

This is the place to look for the latest system messages and status.

If we have any news regarding system faults, upgrades, etc, then this is where we shall post them.

If you have any problems with your website or its services then please check here to see if there are any known issues already receiving attention.

Some old messages will be left here for a while if they are still relevant or informative, but other older messages or those which have been superceded will be removed (or edited if appropriate).

• 25th April 2008 - Server Upgrade - A series of server upgrades has been completed. Some adjustments were made to the GPUK.net software in anticipation of the upgrade. The server RAM was trebled to improve responsivness. The server operating system was upgraded. Further small adjustments were made to the GPUK.net software after the upgrade. We are not aware of any outstanding issues with your websites, but if you note any problems please contact support.
  
  
• 12th July 2006 - Server Upgrade - The server on which GPUK.net runs has been upgraded to a faster more powerful model. This should not affect any services, except that pages are now loading much more quickly than before.
  
  
• 2nd January 2006 - Server Issues - Today there have been problems with the server redirecting visitors to the wrong pages on GPUK.net, and with the SSL certificate for the secure services showing as expired (although it hasn't expired), and this has interrupted services such as prescription ordering and appointment booking. This is being addressed and should be resolved shortly. - updated 3rd Jan 2006 08:30 - this is now resolved.
  
  
• 16th September 2004 - Additional Secure Option for Transferring Data to Your Practice - Since the inception of GPUK.net your patient data has been able to be secured, by the use of SSL server for collecting the data (e.g. prescription details), and by provision of encryption for emailing the data to your practice. For the second stage of this data journey we now offer a simpler and cheaper option. No longer is it necessary for you to provide decrpyption software at your practice to decrypt incoming encrypted emails. That option remains for those whom it suits, but now we offer an alternative of leaving the data on the server and accessing it by SSL secured webmail. There is no extra charge for use of this option. If you would like to make use of this then email support@gpuk.net and ask for your secure emailbox to be activated.
  
  
• 7th August 2004 - Full Service Upgrade - There have been no announcements on this page for many months because there have been no upgrades to announce. However work has been going on behind the scenes on a very major upgrade and this is now ready for beta-testing. If you would like to be a beta-tester please email support@gpuk.net and let us know. Just some of the features of the forthcoming upgrade include:
  • Full compliance with Disability Discrimination Act requirements for website accessibility
  • Much wider selection of designs
  • Much easier to add more designs - tell us the type of layout that you like and we can add it to the list of selectable options
  • Advanced editing features - easier to layout and format your text.
  • Options to hide pages or parts of pages so that they are not visible to the public during setting up.
  • Pages can be re-ordered easily and the menu recreates itself automatically.
  • Full options for hierarchical menus for subsections on your website.
  • Time delayed automatic publishing and withdrawal of pages or parts of pages e.g. announcements.
  • Automatic notification to visitors of recently updated pages
  • The advanced features from GPUK.net (e.g. encrypted appointment booking and prescription ordering systems) have been carried across, so there is nothing missing but much more added.
  • and more
  This will be a free upgrade for existing clients.
  
  
• 22nd December 2003 - Server Upgrade - Free Upgrades to your Accounts - GPUK.net has upgraded to a more powerful server. This enables a free upgrade to your account diskspace and bandwidth allowances. With immediate effect, and at no extra charge, your diskspace allowance is increased from 25Mb to 100Mb, and your bandwidth (transfer allowance) is increased from 280Mb to 1Gb per month.
  
  
• 4th December 2003 - Double Line-Spacing in Emails - this problem is now resolved. If you experience any problems in requests submitted after 23:00 on 04/12/2003 then please email details to support@gpuk.net.
  
  
• 2nd December 2003 - Double Line-Spacing in Emails - some users have reported that prescription and appointment emails are arriving with double line-spacing. This is not due to a change on the server but appears to be due to a change in behaviour of the Internet/NHSnet email gateway - investigation is ongoing.
  
  
• 26th September 2003 - Automatic File Listing - Particularly in relation to the Freedom of Information Act you will need to make some files available to the public. To make this easier for you do on your website we have introduced an automated file listing. It works as follows:
  • Create a page on which you wish to list the files (or use an existing page, but in that case first read the notes below).
  • Upload your files to the directory for that page.
  • Edit the text of that page - include any introductory text for your file listing.
  • At the point where you want to list the files put the following as the only text on a line: %%filelist
  • You may include further text below the filelisting if you wish.
  • That's all you need to do - your files should now be listed automatically. You may do this on as many pages as you wish, e.g. a different page for each section of your Publication Policy.
  Notes:
  1. If wanting to list files on an existing page that you have made yourself (i.e. this does not apply to the standard pages such as homepage and repeat prescriptions) you will need to update the page to include the new code. Simply go to the admin option to "Create Pages" and create a page of the exact same name and type as your existing page - this will not clear your existing content but it will update the code of the page to include the %%filelist function.
  2. Filenames should not include any spaces. However if you wish them to be displayed without spaces so as to give a legible title then use _underscores_ in place of spaces - when the file link is displayed the underscore will be replaced by spaces. e.g. filename "Our_Publications_Policy.pdf" will be displayed as "Our Publications Policy"
  3. Filenames should end with the appropriate extension to indicate the type of file e.g. .pdf or .doc
  4. Filetype (e.g. pdf) and filesize (e.g. 34kb) will be displayed automatically. e.g. filename "Our_Publications_Policy.pdf" will in fact be displayed as a clickable link "Our Publications Policy pdf 34kb"
  5. Currently this automatic listing works for files of types pdf, doc, rtf, xls, wpd, ppt, pps. If you need to list other filetypes then email support@gpuk.net and specify which filetypes you would like to be added to the list.
  
  
  
• 13th September 2003 - Printer Friendly Pages - your website pages are now "printer friendly". We have arranged that when the visitor prints a page then the navigation frame is not included, so they get a much better layout of the content of your pages. This includes the appointment booking and prescription order outcome pages which they may wish to print out for confirmation.
  
  
• 10th September 2003 - 2nd Part of Upgrade to Repeat Prescription Request Module - There is now an option to 'remember' previously ordered prescription items so as to be able to reorder in future without having to retype the details. This is optional and users may opt not to save details. Details are stored securely as part of the encrypted login cookie on the users own computer. This is only applicable to users who have registered and used the login button. If you want to enable the advantages of this upgrade to your patients then you may need to visit your admin pages to activate the login button which is not present by default for earlier subscribers.
  
  
• 24th August 2003 - Upgrade to Repeat Prescription Request Module - The error checking on this page has been greatly improved. Now, if a patient enters invalid data and has to go back to correct it, they will no longer have to re-enter all the data, they will simply need to correct the invalid data. This is the first of a series of planned upgrades.
  
  
• March 2003 - Winner of GP/NHSnet Accolade for Innovation - We are pleased to announce that GPUK.net was the winner of the GP/NHSnet Accolades in the Innovation category. These awards were judged by the NHSIA (NHS Information Authority) and they particularly approved of the security features of GPUK.net, with the use of an SSL server and encryption to protect patient details.
  
  
• 26th February 2003 - New Patient Registration Page - This has been enhanced so that previously entered data is preserved, if a patient needs to return to the entry page to correct an error in their data, even if their browser clears its cache.
  
  
• 22nd January 2003 - Patient Email Addresses - If you prefer to require patients to supply email addresses, rather than making that optional, you may now change the email box to require entry of an email address, and the form will not be processed if a validly formatted email address is not supplied.
  
  
• 5th November 2002 - Secure Email Service - A new SSL secure web-based email service is available free of charge for paid up subscribers (NB not available on the test accounts) at webmail.gpuk.net. What use is this to you? Three main uses:
  
  
  1. Email in this account is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection, e.g. from home, from surgery, and from your holiday/conference hotel. Thus you could direct email to this account and view it from GPUK.net secure SSL connection. Also with webmail.gpuk.net you can collect pop3 email from other accounts elsewhere e.g. whilst you are away and your email is collecting on your isp server, you can connect to webmail.gpuk.net, copy all mail from your ISP email account to webmail.gpuk.net and view it here - it is your choice whether you then delete emails from your ISP account, or leave a copy there to download in the usual way when you get home.
  2. Since this service is secured by SSL you could use this for your 'backup' emails from your GPUK.net website services e.g. prescription and appointment backup emails. Then if your practice email system ever lets you down, you will still be able to check incoming messages by viewing your webmail account over any available Internet connection.
  3. Indeed, since this system is secured by SSL you could use it as your primary destination for emails from your website services. No need to set up shared receptionist mailboxes within the practice email system, simply set your secure webmail account as your destination address, and then your receptionists can access incoming email over the Internet and NHSnet. Thus you don't even need to have a working practice email system to use GPUK.net website services.
     
     
  If you are a paid up subscriber and wish to use this service then email support@gpuk.net and ask for an account to be set up for you. Diskspace used by stored emails counts towards your diskspace allowance.
  
  
• 8th September 2002 - Updated Site Style Editor - A new Style designing module gives you much more control and options for the style of your website - colours, font-styles, and so on. There are also some new standard designs, and several more will be added soon.
  
  
• 1st September 2002 - Patient Login/Registration - To make it easier for repeated use of your website by your patients, there is now an optional registration/login feature. If patients make use of this then they will not need to re-enter their personal details each time they book an appointment or order a prescription. This is designed to be fully secure and confidential - personal details are not kept on the webserver but are stored in a "cookie" on the patient's own computer, and before being stored in the cookie the details are encrypted. Full details are given on the login page. This feature is activated by default on new accounts. On existing active accounts it is active but is not currently displayed to patients - this is to give you a chance to review it first. To view and test it go to page https://www.gpuk.net/YOURACCOUNTNAME/login. To display it to patients, either use the admin item "Menu Links for the main site features" or create your own link to the URL above (note that this is an https url since for security it runs on the SSL secure server).
  
  
• 1st September 2002 - File Reorganisation - Some behind-the-scenes reorganisation has taken place. This should be invisible to you, but if you encounter any broken links or similar please email support@gpuk.net with details of the page in question. Thank you.
  
  
• 5th August 2002 - Password Protected Directory - All new accounts have a password protected directory called "private" i.e. it is at www.gpuk.net/youracount/private. You may like to use this for storing private documents for which you may require access when away, and you may want to have a private area of your website e.g. for private pages giving practice information to prospective registrars or partners. The password is set to be the same as the admin user/password for the account, but if you prefer a different password then email support@gpuk.net specifying your preference. If you are an existing subscriber and wish to have such a feature then email support@gpuk.net specifying your preference for password and username and we shall setup the directory.
  
  
• 5th August 2002 - Style Choices - We have added a few more colour schemes to the "Standard Style Choices" menu. We shall add further choices soon.
  
  
• 1st August 2002 - Colour choices - In addition to the standard colour choices offered for your menu background and buttons, you may now specify absolutely any colour that you wish. Use the same admin page ("Menubar/Frame Colour and Style/Shape") and instead of clicking on a colour enter the code for your choice of colours in the boxes at the bottom of the list.
  
  
• 31st July 2002 - Email Addresses - Instructions available here on how to enable emails to your .nhs.uk domain address e.g. My.Name@mysurgery.nhs.uk.
  
  
• 18th July 2002 - Menubar Style Upgrade - The default now for the menubar is for the links to show as buttons. Text links are still an option if preferred, e.g. if you need to use long descriptions, but otherwise buttons are usually considered more attractive. This has been a technically complicated upgrade - since you may enter as many links as you like with whatever title you like we cannot simply provide a stock of standard buttons. Therefore we have added extra software which, whilst the page is loading, actually creates a new image with the required size colour and text whenever a button is requested that is not already in stock.
  
  
• 4th June 2002 - Appointment Cancellation Feature - There is now an appointment cancellation feature as well as a booking option. From the appointment booking front page a patient may select whether they are cancelling an appointment or booking one. If they opt to cancel an appointment then they are offered a secure form in which they can enter the details of the appointment to be cancelled, and their own details, and this message is emailed to the appointments email address. This feature is enabled by default on new accounts, but disabled by default on existing appointment using accounts so as to allow those practices to review it before activating it. It may be activated, and the accompanying text may be edited, from the appointment configuration page.
  
  
• 29th May 2002 - Appointment System Upgrade - Two new features have been added to the appointment system to make uploading of appointments much easier. Firstly you may now, having selected appointment slots to create, have those same slots copied forward for up to 13 subsequent weeks, if you wish to set up a standard or recurring pattern. Secondly, you may limit how far in advance appointments are displayed to patients. E.g. you may have set up more appointments slots but choose to display only e.g. 10 days in advance. Using these two features together you may add many slots at one administrative session without having to display slots too far in advance. To copy forward setups to subsequent weeks simply add appointments in the usual way but before hitting the submit button indicate how many weeks forward you wish this plan to be copied. To limit the display of future appointments use the admin appointment configuration page to specify the number of days in advance to display.
  
  
• 13th May 2002 - Advertising Logos - GPUK.net will not place any advertising on your website, but for the use of those practices who wish to do so and who have obtained sponsorhip for their site we have added a automated facility for displaying advertisers logos at the lower end of the left navigation bar.
  
  
• 5th May 2002 - Operating Software upgrade - Most pages will load much more quickly and smoothly with the new version of php software.
  
  
• 1st April 2002 - Option to set the Default View on the Appointment Booking page - You may now select whether the default view on viewing the Appointment Booking page will be for today or tomorrow.
  
  
• 1st April 2002 - Optional Text Box on the Prescription Order Page - From the Admin page you may now enable an optional text box on the prescription order page, so that patients may send messages together with their prescription request e.g. to explain that they are ordering early because they are going away.
  
  
• 26th March 2002 - Optional Check Box - The prescription, appointment and registration screens have a note asking the patient to confirm that they have read the privacy notice. You may now if you wish use the appropriate admin screen to activate a checkbox which the patient must tick, to actively confirm that they have read the notice, before their request is accepted.
  
  
• 12th January 2002 - Improved Search Box for your site - Previously we were using a search box that required an advertising banner. We now provide our own in-house solution which is much more discreet. You may activate this from the "Configure Search Facility" link on the Admin page.
  
  
• 16th December 2001 - Administration Module Upgrade - Previously you had to enter your codename and password quite frequently when undertaking administration of your site. We have reorganised the authentication setup and now you only have to enter your password once when first entering the admin directory. This is clearly much simpler for you, and should speed up administration tasks. If you prefer the old method of authentication then those pages are still available if you go to admin2 directory instead of admin. If you have any difficulties with the new system then please email support@gpuk.net.
  
  
• 1st December 2001 - File uploading - You now have a choice of two methods of file upload - web page interface as previously, or by anonymous ftp. In either case start by selecting file uploads from the admin menu, and then navigate to your chosen directory, and then make your choice of method as indicated onscreen.
  
  
• 24th November 2001 - Added the ability to choose whether or not to display the surgery name, address, tel/fax as a header on the home page. By default this appears as a header above any text that you enter, but you may now switch this off/on with a clickable selection on the Edit Text page when editing the home page text. This may be useful if for example you wish to have a picture at the head of the page, or if you wish to design your own header with different content.
  
  
• 18th November 2001 - Added the ability to edit your 404 error message page from the Edit Pages menu. (The 404 error page is the page that is displayed when your visitor tries to access a non-existent page, e.g. a broken link or mistyped URL).