Path to Live environments
Find out how to connect to the Path to Live environments. Service information, including user guides and common issues, as well as change details and news are also available.
Deployments into ERSINT to Support Advice and Guidance Service
As part of planned changes to support the introduction of a new Advice and Guidance (A&G) service, the e‑RS INT training environment is being used by the development team to test specific scenarios. This activity will continue until 19 May. During this period, users may experience intermittent downtime or reduced availability.
Where possible, any required updates or outages will be carried out, out of hours, although this may not always be achievable.
Please see the latest newsletter for contact details in case of questions.
Environments
The following environments are available for users to connect to.
Integration
The integration environments are used for integration testing which proves the end to end capability of messaging between the supplier’s test environment and a Path to Live test environment. It may include testing of new supplier releases as well as regression testing of their existing releases against new Spine Core, Spine Care Identity Service and NHS e-Referral Service national releases.
Deployment
The deployment environments are used for integration testing which proves the end to end capability of messaging between the supplier’s test environment and a Path to Live test environment. It is mainly used for regression testing of their existing releases against new Spine Core, Spine Care Identity Service and NHS e-Referral Service national releases or as reference environment for incident diagnosis
Production
The Production environment is not supported by the ITOC Support Desk. Any queries regarding any aspect of the Production environment should be directed to the National Service Desk. We have however maintained the Production certificates for your convenience
Environments status
Environment build versions
Current versions of the national system applications deployed in each Path to Live environment.
Services
The following services are available across the Path to Live environments.
Spine Core messaging and Spine Core applications
The Spine Core service provides a messaging service that allows certified endpoint message handling systems to query and update data held in the national systems.
The Spine Core system also supports the e-RS national system by providing a messaging interface between e-RS and referrers and providers. Also included in the Spine Core service are the Graphic User Interface (GUI) based National Care Records Service (NCRS) and Demographic Spine Application (DSA). These allow Spine Core data to be accessed and/or updated without a messaging interface.
The NCRS application also allows access to some specialist data such as migrants and visitors.
Spine Mini Service Provider
Spine Mini Service Provider provides a simple interface to local systems for demographic messaging, allowing quick recovery of details without the requirements of full integration. Messaging functionality is limited to queries.
Spine Secure Proxy
The Spine Secure Proxy provides an access control layer required by certain programs where patient data may be made accessible to certified users and systems.
Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH)
The Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH) provides a workflow based data transfer service that allows registered users to exchange data between secure mailboxes. It is used to support services such as the transfer of Pathology data between labs and hospitals and electronic discharge notes to community medical teams for patients leaving hospital care.
Care Identity Service (CIS)
The Care Identity Service (CIS) controls user access to data held in the national systems. Users access is based on Role Based Access Control (RBAC), managed by within the CIS2 application. Several authentication methods are now available. Please consult the CIS2 authentication methods page for more details Certification and management of message handling systems is also managed within the CIS application.
NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS)
The NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) allows patients to book a choice of available hospital or clinic appointments based on the patients preference. Patients can book their appointments in the GP surgery at the point of referral, or later at home, on the phone or online.
NHS e-Referral Service Application Programming Interface (e-RS API)
The NHS e-Referral Service API system allows patient systems to perform clinical actions within the e-RS application via an external API interface. These APIs can be configured by the user community and submitted for approval by NHS England. More information on the e-RS API Service and useful starting information is available.
Forms
A list of all the Path to Live environment online forms and when to use them.
Test data
For details on what test data is available, and how to set up your own test data, see setting up test data in our path to live environments.
Forward change schedule
Find out details of planned changes and how these will impact on environment availability.
Change success report
Find out the success status of changes made to the environments.
Request Splunk Cloud Access
Find out how to request access to Splunk Cloud.
News
Contact us
Report an incident
If you have an account, you can use the Service portal to log the incident. You will need to have access to the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) to register for an account.
Otherwise, please use the online incident reporting form (opens in a new window).
Feedback
Your feedback is important to us to help improve our service. Use our feedback form to share your experience of the Environment Management Team (opens in a new window).
Further information
Email: [email protected]
Further information
NHS England provides a number of Path to Live testing and training environments. This page describes the process you should follow to successfully connect to these environments.
An overview of all changes scheduled to be implemented in the Path to Live environments.
The status of all changes implemented in the Path to Live environments in the last 24 hours.
Last edited: 1 April 2026 4:29 pm