Primary Care News

TPP achieves GP Connect full roll out approval

TPP has achieved full roll-out approval for Access Record: HTML capability as part of NHS Digital’s GP Connect programme.

The programme ensures that staff across the NHS can access vital information from GP practice records and TPP’s full roll-out approval marks a major step forward for the national interoperability initiative.  The Access Record: HTML capability within the GP Connect programme focusses on making GP patient records available in any care setting regardless of IT system.

TPP have recently completed two successful pilots – working with the Leeds Care Record team to connect GP practices with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and other organisations who are connected to the Leeds Care Record, and with an alliance of GP practices in Newbury. These pilots have resulted in TPP being given the green light from NHS Digital to enable the functionality for all GPs on their system.

Dr John Parry, TPP’s Clinical Director “TPP has worked closely with NHS Digital for over two years to deliver interoperability, based on open standards. GP Connect is a vital first step in the national journey to better shared care. I am very pleased with the progress that has been made and am excited that this functionality will now benefit patients and staff across the entire country.”

Michelle McDermott, Programme Manager at NHS Digital said: “This is an important step in our ongoing work to achieve the government’s vision of better supporting clinical care by opening up information and data held within GP Practice IT core systems. GP Connect will link information held within the different GP information systems, allowing it to flow safely and seamlessly between care settings; empowering health providers to make the best care decisions for their patients.”

The company now aims is to expand the capability into more settings, for example urgent care, mental health and social care.

The next phase of the programme will be to provide important structured data – based on open FHIR specifications – alongside patient record views.