Transaction Messaging Service (TMS)

TMS is the Spine's message handling application. It allows clinical messages from NHS Care Records Service users to be securely routed to the requested services. The TMS also manages responses to service requests.

Depending on the type of message, the TMS identifies where the message needs to be sent - for example from a GP to a hospital, or from one GP to another. It provides the messaging infrastructure that hosts the exchange of NHS CFH healthcare messages from Local Service Providers (LSPs) and Existing Service Providers (ESPs) into the Spine.

The TMS also acts as an intermediary providing the hub whereby LSPs and ESPs can exchange messages with each other. For example, when a patient registers with a new GP surgery, the patient's healthcare records can be sent from their old surgery to the new one via TMS.