GPs and hospitals in England to be required to share data to create single patient records

"Legislation to create a single patient record (SPR) for each person, which would be used across all healthcare providers, is part of a 10bn digitisation of the health service. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, said making the data accessible in one place would be a gamechanger that would save lives. The legislation aims to spare patients from constantly having to repeat their medical history when turning up at hospital or being discharged back to their GP."

"As patients, there's nothing more frustrating than having to repeat your medical history at every appointment, Streeting said. When paramedics arrive to heart attack and stroke patients, they can't see the patients' medical records, putting them in even greater danger. For the first time ever, the single patient record will mean patients are given real control over their care through a single, secure and authoritative account of their data."

"Although some emergency information is already available such as current medicines and known allergies hospitals often cannot access the full medical history of a patient. GPs have to wait for letters, sent by email, from consultants to be informed of what happened to their patient in the hospital. The SPRs will be available to clinicians in parts of the NHS as early as next year, including maternity and frailty care, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed."

"The legislation will be part of a health bill that will scrap NHS England by 2027. The DHSC said patients would receive safer, quicker and more accurate healthcare as the SPRs join up fragmented health information from around the country. They would also have more control and transparency, with clear safeguard"

GPs and hospitals will be required to share patient data under legislation planned for the king’s speech. The law will create a single patient record for each person, forming part of a £10bn digitisation of the health service. The record will be used across healthcare providers to reduce the need for patients to repeat medical histories at appointments and during discharge. Paramedics and hospital staff will gain access to fuller medical information, improving care for heart attack and stroke emergencies. Clinicians will be able to access SPRs in parts of the NHS as early as next year, including maternity and frailty care. The legislation will be included in a health bill that will scrap NHS England by 2027, aiming for safer, quicker, more accurate care and greater patient control and transparency.

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