ICB advises GP practices not to turn on automatic patient record access

A London ICB has expressly advised GP practices not to switch on automatic patient access to prospective records ahead of the 31 October deadline

During a recent webinar, the North East London ICB advised practices to only activate patient access to medical records upon specific request. This recommendation aligns with the recent guidance from the BMA, which suggests a slower process in the upcoming months while considering a legal challenge against the imposed requirement.

Dr. Osman Bhatti, a GP and chief clinical information officer at the North East London ICB, emphasised the importance of cautious implementation. He urged practices not to enable automatic access before October 31, allowing time for potential changes and negotiations with NHS England for a more sensible approach.

While Dr. Bhatti agreed that all patients should eventually have access to their records, he stressed the need for a controlled and well-managed process. He proposed a clear pathway for patients to request their medical records through the NHS App, ensuring both patients and staff understand the procedure.

Dr. Bhatti clarified that the proposed process in North East London involves patients initiating the online access request, rather than it being automatic. The practice would not immediately approve EMIS requests from NHS England for automatic access, instead waiting to see how the situation unfolds by October 31. He believed it was better to wait and avoid potential implications that could arise if practices enabled automatic access at present.

Additionally, Dr. Bhatti highlighted changes in the GP contract that impose a stronger obligation on practices to provide online access. He expressed concerns about the lack of communication regarding contractual changes, including the removal of any mention of redaction software. These changes, if not effectively communicated, may cause issues for practices in the future.

Dr. Bhatti mentioned that EMIS had requested all GP practices to sign up for the release of records for prospective access. On June 1, they plan to enable access for those who have signed up. There will be a contractual enforcement on October 31, the nature of which is still uncertain and under discussion by the BMA.

Furthermore, Dr. Bhatti shared that NHS England encouraged ICBs to support practices in updating global configurations and removing bulk codes. However, the new BMA guidance clarified that there is no urgent contractual obligation to remove codes and expressed concerns about the inadequacy of existing redaction tools.