We need to mandate that all GP practices have a robust, fully integrated electronic patient record system that talks seamlessly to secondary care. This isn't about abstract data concerns; it's about making sure the right information is where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. For years we've been using clunky, disparate systems. If a patient comes into A&E, or gets admitted to hospital, the clinicians there often have to call us to get basic details, or they just don't have them. That delays everything and sometimes leads to mistakes.
This isn't some newfangled technological fix. It’s basic infrastructure. We've had the technology for decades, but successive governments have failed to properly fund its rollout and maintenance across the entire NHS. The idea that a single patient record will save 20,000 A&E visits sounds like pure fantasy conjured up to avoid the real problem.
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I've seen this myself when my son had to be treated by a locum GP who couldn't access his full medical history because it was stored on a seperate system, it was a real challenge to get him the right treatment quickly. Isn't it time we prioritised sorting out our patient record systems and made sure they're properly funded, rather than getting bogged down in worries about potential risks that can be mitigated with proper secuirty measures?
I've seen firsthand how disjointed patient care can be when I had to take my son to A&E and they couldn't access his medical history from our GP, it was a real hassle and delayed his treatment.