GPs and hospitals in England to be required to share data to create single patient records

Wes Streeting says legislation will save lives, but GPs are concerned about liability for errors introduced by other providers GPs and hospitals will be required to share patient data under legislation to be announced in the king’s speech on Wednesday. Legislation to create a single patient record (SPR) for each person, which would be used across all healthcare providers, is part of a £10bn digitisation of the health service. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, said making the data accessible in one place would be a “gamechanger” that would save lives. The legislation aims to spare patients from constantly having to repeat their medical history when turning up at hospital or being discharged back to their GP. “As patients, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to repeat your medical history at every appointment,” Streeting said. “When paramedics arrive to heart attack and stroke patients, they can’t see the patients’ medical records, putting them in even greater danger. “For the first time ever, the single patient record will mean patients are given real control over their care through a single, secure and authoritative account of their data. “It will be a gamechanger that