SMART Cards & NHS Mail accounts
Changes to IT support from 1 November 2026
From 1 November 2026, Staffordshire and Shropshire Health Informatics Service (SSHIS) will take over IT support currently provided by Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
The change in IT support arrangements from MLCSU to SSHIS will not affect colleagues’ login details, Smartcard PINs, passwords, email addresses, devices or system access.
Registration Authority (RA/Smartcard) services currently provided by MLCSU across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will also transfer to SSHIS from 1 November.
The Data Quality Facilitator Team will remain with MLCSU for the time being and is not transferring to SSHIS on 1 November. Further information about the team’s transition will be shared once arrangements have been finalised.
For colleagues in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, existing IT support arrangements with SSHIS are not changing. The only change from 1 November will be that Registration Authority (RA/Smartcard) support will move from MLCSU to SSHIS.
Please continue to access support through your existing routes (MLCSU) until any of the changes take effect on 1 November. Further updates will be provided ahead of the transfer, including clear information about how to access IT and RA support through SSHIS.
Who are SSHIS?
SSHIS provides digital and IT services across Staffordshire and Shropshire. The transfer will bring services together into a single informatics service supporting organisations across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
SSHIS is ISO 27001 accredited, compliant with the DCB1596 Secure Email Standard and holds 3-star Service Desk Certification, providing assurance that its services, processes and information governance arrangements meet recognised industry standards and best practice.
What happens next?
Please share this information with colleagues and teams so that everyone is aware of the changes.
MLCSU and SSHIS are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity of support. Existing IT and Digital teams progressing through the TUPE transfer process, helping to retain local knowledge, experience, and established relationships.
Further updates will be shared ahead of 1 November, so please keep an eye out for future communications.
