Why register?
Registering with The Knowledge Network gives you the following benefits:
For all registered users - facilities to:
- Customise The Knowledge Network homepage e.g. have your own list of favourite resources.
- Save searches you want to repeat.
- Share resources and communicate with colleagues through community websites and Shared Spaces.
For registered NHSScotland staff, students and partners*:
These groups have access to the password-protected content licensed from book and journal publishers (over 5000 online journals, over 80 major databases, over 5000 electronic books, Good Practice collections of management tools and techniques).
Who are ‘NHSScotland staff, students and partners'?
- Staff - anyone who works directly for or is a contractor with NHSScotland, including those providing training to NHS staff.
- Students - undergraduate or postgraduate students working or training with the NHS. (Many students may have registered for ATHENS accounts from their university or college; these will give access to a different selection of resources.)
- Partners - all individuals and organisation that provide services and support to the work of NHSScotland, including local authority staff, Scottish Executive, voluntary health sector, health care staff working in the armed forces, prison service, nursing homes, hospices, schools, etc, emergency services staff, members of the Scottish Royal Colleges, patient / public representatives on NHS groups.
What resources can I access if I am not covered by "NHSScotland staff students and partners"?
Many resources are freely available, including MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library. You can access the wider range of password-protected published content via public access computers on NHS sites (eg in Health Promotion Resource Centres). Some public libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaux will also help you to access these resources.
If you are in any doubt about eligibility, please contact us at Athens.admin@nes.scot.nhs.uk for advice.
If you register from a healthcare site connected to NHSNet (e.g. hospital or general practice.), your username and password should be sent to you immediately. If you complete the form from outside NHSNet, your application for a username and password will take 1-3 working days to process, as your application needs to be reviewed and approved.