The UK government is set to introduce legislation requiring GPs and hospitals in England to share patient data to create a single patient record (SPR) for each individual. The move, part of a £10bn digitisation of the NHS, will be announced in the King's Speech on Wednesday.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the initiative as a “gamechanger” that will save lives by ensuring clinicians have access to complete medical histories. Currently, patients often have to repeat their history at each appointment, and paramedics cannot access records for heart attack or stroke patients. The SPR aims to give patients control over their data while allowing NHS staff to deliver better care faster.
The legislation will be included in a health bill that also abolishes NHS England by 2027. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that SPRs will be available to clinicians in areas like maternity and frailty care as early as next year. The DHSC stated that the records will provide safer, quicker, and more accurate healthcare by joining up fragmented information, with clear safeguards and audit trails.
However, GP leaders have expressed concerns about liability for errors introduced by other providers. The British Medical Association has called for doctors to retain control of GP data within the SPR, warning that removing this control could damage trust and confidentiality. The NHS Alliance, representing hospitals and NHS leaders, urged the bill to clarify data responsibility, control, and legal liability to ensure smooth passage and public trust.
