NHS single patient record: opportunity, trust, and getting the details right
by Dr Andrew Whiteley, founder and Managing Director of Lexacom
The NHS Modernisation Bill has brought renewed attention to the idea of a Single Patient Record, a proposal that would allow information from general practice, hospitals and other healthcare settings to be viewed more easily across the NHS.
As both a GP and someone who has spent more than 25 years developing healthcare technology, I recognise the frustration that can arise when information is fragmented between systems, unavailable when needed, or has to be repeated multiple times by patients moving between services.
Much of the discussion so far has focused on projected efficiencies, reduced duplication, and the potential to improve patient care, which are important benefits. Better access to relevant information can support better decision making, particularly when clinicians are working under pressure or caring for patients with complex needs.
However, healthcare technology is rarely defined by what it aims to achieve. Its success is usually determined by how it is implemented, how well it fits into clinical practice, and whether people trust it.
Better information, better care
For many years, healthcare organisations have been working towards more joined-up care. Patients rarely receive treatment from a single service. A typical patient may interact with their GP, hospital specialists, community teams, pharmacists, mental health services and social care providers, often within a relatively short period of time.
When information doesn’t flow effectively between these services, the impact is felt by both clinicians and patients. Time is spent searching for records, clarifying information, repeating assessments, and filling gaps that should not exist. Patients can find themselves explaining the same medical history repeatedly, while clinicians are left making decisions without having access to the full picture.
If Single Patient Record is implemented effectively it has the potential to improve continuity of care, reduce unnecessary duplication, and help clinicians spend less time navigating systems and more time focusing on patients. The greatest value would be to create a more connected healthcare experience, where information is available at the point of care – wherever that care takes place.
Trust is as important as tech
Alongside the potential benefits, it is equally understandable why questions are being raised about data governance, confidentiality and accountability. Patients share highly personal information, trusting it will be handled responsibly and securely. That trust forms part of the foundation of effective clinical care, and cannot be treated as a secondary consideration.
Reports by the BBC and BMJ yesterday highlighted concerns around who will ultimately control access to shared records, and how those arrangements will operate in practice. These are legitimate questions that deserve clear answers. Transparency around governance, access controls, audit trails and data protection will be essential if public confidence is to be maintained.
Technology can help solve many challenges within healthcare, but only when safety, privacy, and trust are built into the design from the beginning. In healthcare, confidence is earned through clarity, consistency and responsible implementation.
Clinicians should remain central
One aspect of the debate that particularly resonates with me is the importance of involving clinicians in shaping how systems are developed and deployed.
Healthcare is full of examples where good intentions have encountered practical challenges once they reach real clinical environments. The people who understand these environments best are the clinicians, administrators and healthcare teams who work within them every day. They understand where information gaps occur, where delays are introduced, and where technology can make the greatest difference.
The discussion around the Single Patient Record should therefore extend beyond technology itself. The most important question is not simply whether information can be shared, but how it can be shared in ways that genuinely support patient care while maintaining confidence among both patients and healthcare professionals.
The opportunity is significant. Better connected information has the potential to support safer, more coordinated care across the NHS. Achieving that outcome will depend on balancing innovation with trust, and ensuring that practical clinical realities remain at the centre of every decision made along the way.
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