Plans to enable patient access to GP records via the NHS app will be delayed until April 2022, the BMA has told Pulse.

It follows the BMA writing to NHSX expressing their concerns about the timing of the rollout.

NHS Digital had announced in October that patients whose practices use TPP will be first to have access to new entries in their GP notes through the NHS App from December – with EMIS practices to follow next year.

In a GPC email bulletin sent to GPs earlier this month, the BMA said it was ‘seeking a pause’ on the rollout to ‘ensure the views of the profession are better represented’, and that ‘the programme is delayed until there is appropriate time to work through our concerns’.

In its most recent primary care bulletin, NHS England said the change was made ‘in response to issues raised by general practices’.

NHS England said: ‘We appreciate that further time is needed to prepare systems and staff for the changes and to provide training on ensuring sensitive information is safely hidden from patient view as it’s entered on systems. This change is now planned to occur from April 2022 and will apply to all practices using TPP and EMIS systems.’

Dr Anu Rao, BMA GP committee IT policy lead, told Pulse: ‘We are pleased that NHSX has listened to our concerns about the programme and decided to delay the rollout until spring next year. 

‘The BMA is supportive of the principles and aims of responsible data sharing and patient access to their GP records and we will continue to work with NHSX and other stakeholders to look at the programme in detail to ensure a smooth rollout that is beneficial, useful and safe for patients, while minimising disruption to practices.’ 

Caitlin Tilley (Pulsetoday.co.uk)
25 November 2021