This simple change could slash long waits to see a doctor | Politics | News

The days of patients having to give the same information over and over again to staff in different branches of the NHS could be about to end thanks to a coming digital revolution.

People seeking medical help will no longer have to repeat the same answers to questions at each appointment because patient data will be securely shared between NHS Trusts, GPs and ambulance services.

Everyone in England will have a single patient record – delivered via the NHS app – which summarises their health information, test results, and letters in one place.

This means staff will no longer spend time filling out paperwork which has been recorded elsewhere. The full roll-out of so-called “patient passports” could slash the number of medical errors a year by nearly seven million.

It is hoped the transformation in patient records will save 140,000 hours of NHS staff time a year, ensure important details are no longer missed and prevent medication errors. A further goal is allowing healthcare workers to spend more time face to face with patients.

The changes are expected to save the NHS £340million over a decade – the equivalent of 1,000 nurses’ salaries. Giving staff access to up to date and accurate patient records could result in a 10% reduction in duplicated diagnostic tests.

A new law to allow the safe sharing of patient information will be published this week.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting set out the difference he hopes this will make to patients’ lives.

He described meeting the parents of a baby who had heart surgery. When they took their child home and visited their GP they were “frightened” to discover their doctor had not seen the hospital records.

Mr Streeting said: “Imagine how those parents felt – a tiny life in their hands in front of a medical professional who had only a partial sight on their experience. Imagine how the GP felt, having to ask basic questions about fundamental aspects of that baby’s medical history.

“We need a healthcare system that can safely and swiftly share patient data and medical history, no matter where the appointment is, so that our hardworking NHS staff have what they need to give patients the care that they need. This is why moving the NHS from analogue to digital is central to our 10-year plan that will revolutionise care and provide a better future for staff.”

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The huge amount of data the NHS holds on all of us has the power to lead to better treatments and a better patient experience. But it is currently fragmented, recorded in different ways.

“That means information such as pre-existing medical conditions isn’t always available to every member of staff who needs to promptly make an informed decision about our treatment.”

Vin Diwakar, NHS England’s national director of transformation, said: “As an NHS doctor myself, I know it is vital that NHS staff have quicker access to more accurate and comprehensive data, giving them more face-to-face time with patients who need it most.”

The new Data Bill will bring in mandatory information standards for IT providers and make sure patient information is recorded and managed in the same way across systems.

Consent will be sought for sharing confidential information for any uses other than direct patient care. The Government insists NHS systems “operate to the highest standards of security”.