The UK government is set to introduce legislation requiring GPs and hospitals in England to share patient data, creating a single patient record (SPR) for each individual. This move is part of a broader £10bn digitization of the National Health Service (NHS).
Legislation Details
The health secretary, Wes Streeting, announced that the legislation will be included in the upcoming king's speech. The goal is to eliminate the need for patients to repeatedly recount their medical history at each appointment. Streeting emphasized that the SPR would be a "gamechanger" that could save lives, particularly in emergencies where paramedics currently lack access to critical medical records.
Current Challenges
Presently, some emergency information such as current medications and allergies is available, but hospitals often cannot access a patient's full medical history. GPs must wait for emailed letters from consultants to learn about hospital visits. The SPR aims to integrate this fragmented information.
Timeline and Scope
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that SPRs could be available to clinicians as early as next year, starting with maternity and frailty care. The legislation is part of a health bill that will also abolish NHS England by 2027.
Benefits and Safeguards
The DHSC states that SPRs will enable safer, quicker, and more accurate healthcare by joining up health information nationwide. Patients will have more control and transparency, with clear safeguards, audit trails, and choices over data use. Clinicians will no longer need to work with missing information or check multiple sources. The legislation will include robust protections against data breaches, and public and professional consultations will guide its design.
Concerns from GPs
Currently, GPs are data controllers for their patients' records and can share them for research. The new law will shift responsibility and mandate data sharing. GP leaders have expressed concerns about liability for errors introduced by other providers. Without statutory clarity and indemnity, data sharing might be slowed. The British Medical Association has previously insisted that doctors retain control of GP data within the SPR, warning that losing control could damage trust and confidentiality.
Reactions
Dr. Alec Price-Forbes, national chief clinical information officer at NHS England, called the SPR a "revolution" for patient care. The NHS Alliance, representing hospitals and NHS leaders, supported the concept but stressed the need for clarity on data responsibility, legal liability, permissible uses, and patient information. Without such clarity, the bill may face parliamentary hurdles and undermine public trust.
