A third of GP practices are not yet ready to provide prospective records access to patients, as they ‘still have the incorrect settings’, NHS England has warned.
The commissioner has told practices they will need to offer automatic access to prospective records via the NHS App by 31 October, as per the changes to the GP contract.
In an update to primary care staff last week, NHS England said that there will be ‘no central automatic switch-on’ and that the contract ‘specifically requires’ practices to configure their systems to allow patients to access online information entered onto their medical record.
The update said: ‘Practices will be contractually required to provide online access to new record information by 31 October unless exceptions apply.
‘Please remember there will be no central automatic switch-on. Practices need to enable access by opting into the last remaining enablement date (EMIS) or following the self-enablement process (TPP).
‘The contract specifically requires practices to configure their computerised clinical systems to allow patients the facility to access online information entered onto their medical record.
‘A third of practices still have the incorrect settings – you can find guidance online.’
Last month, NHSE urged EMIS practices to complete an ‘opt-in form’ in order to have records access enabled automatically before the deadline.
Earlier this year, the BMA was considering a legal challenge over the imposed contractual requirement to offer patients access to prospective records.
However, last month the union abandoned its plans for a challenge against NHS England due to lack of financial resources and legal strength.
A version of this story first appeared on our sister publication Pulse.
