Patients Know Best (PKB) has announced the national launch of GP data integration with its single patient record platform.
The development enables every adult patient in England to store in their PKB personal health record, a copy of the data their GP has released.
Following a soft release in May, over 900,000 patients have chosen to store their GP record in PKB, the company stated, adding how this “underscores significant public demand for having their health information in a single, unified record”.
On the development, PKB shared that the service, accessible via NHS login, helps to empower patients by bringing together their health data into one secure, patient-controlled record. “The PKB software enriches the data released from the GP to the patient by adding SNOMED CT codes, including those for conditions and medications. This creates a combined set of coded data—including observations, measurements, and symptoms entered by the patient or professionals—which can enable automated information support for patients in the future.”
PKB noted: “Patients can share their complete health record with family members, carers, and any healthcare professional globally. The platform’s support for 22 languages and automatic interface translation further breaks down barriers to care for those travelling or seeking international medical advice. By enabling patients to store and share their GP data through PKB, this new service facilitates seamless and safer care coordination.”
Commenting on the launch, Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, CEO of Patients Know Best, said: “We were already releasing over 20 million test results monthly through our hospital partnerships, now this comprehensive integration with all of England’s GP surgeries gives PKB true national coverage. The development gives patients greater control over their health information and fosters better collaboration between healthcare providers. Improved data sharing enhances care coordination, minimises the risk of medical errors and ultimately leads to better health outcomes. Importantly, the addition of coded data will empower the NHS and other healthcare organisations to deliver automated, personalised information to patients in the future.”
Any adult in England can now add their GP data to their PKB record by logging in with their NHS login and selecting ‘Get my GP data’. Patients will initially see demographics, diagnoses, medications and appointments with more information in the UI later in the year.
New users can register for a free account at https://patientsknowbest.com/register.
Wider trend: Digital patient transformation
Patients Know Best has been selected to provide a single patient record system for the Government of Lagos State in Nigeria, forming part of a partnership between Interswitch Group and the government to introduce the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform.
Earlier this year, HTN was joined for a panel discussion on transformation in women’s health by experts including Saima Sharif, NHS obstetrician & gynaecologist, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and digital/AI adopter for women’s health; Dr Nikita Kanani MBE, GP and chief strategy and innovation officer at Aneira Health; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Vicky Rothwell, lead enterprise architect, Aire Logic.
A recent evaluation of the Hospital at Home approach at Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust revealed that 95.8 percent of patients prefer using virtual hospital models. The trust has also reported a “significant net financial benefit to the system” as well as a lower 90-day mortality rate.
