First live GP2GP record transfer

The first live electronic transfer of a patient’s record between GPs using GP2GP record transfer has occurred under the NHS National Programme for IT.

A full patient record was transferred between the Whickam Heath Centre practice to the Chainbridge House practice, both in Gateshead on Tyneside, via the NHS spine. The transfer was made between two practices running EMIS practice software and the supplier’s GP2GP workflow software.

GP-to-GP transfer of electronic patient records means the complete patient record is transferred directly to the new surgery’s computer system, rather than being sent in paper format and then having to be re-input manually.

As well as ensuring that records are more accurate, the electronic record transfer will dramatically speed up the current process of paper-based transfers, which can take up to six weeks to complete.

The live transfer – the first in a national NHS Connecting for Health pilot scheme in the Gateshead area – finally realises the long-held dream of GPs to send patient records electronically between surgeries, rather than waiting sometimes weeks for paper notes to follow a patient from their previous practice.

With electronic transfer, the complete patient record is transferred directly to the new surgery’s computer system, rather than being sent in paper format and then re-input manually. The new system will dramatically speed up the process and should also make records more accurate.

Sean Riddell, deputy managing director of EMIS told EHI Primary Care: "The main significance is that it’s the most complex clinical message that has ever flowed within the NHS."

Richard Granger, director-general of NHS IT and Chief Executive of NHS Connecting for Health said: “I’m really pleased that we now have live sites running with this service. Some 3.3 million people change GP every year so this important development will maximise the value of existing GP systems and improve the working day in many surgeries.

He added that the first live record transfer marked a further milestone "towards the achievement of a portable patient record”.

Nine EMIS practices in the Gateshead Primary Care Trust area are taking part in the NHS CfH pilot, one of three nationally. The live testing of the software follows extensive work to develop and test the interoperability of EMIS’s existing GP2GP workflow software with the NHS spine, which acts as the message carrier.

“Today’s achievement marks an important step towards giving GPs what they have wanted for many years – the ability to transfer patient records quickly and efficiently using an electronic, not a paper-based system,” said Dr David Stables, co-founder and clinical director of EMIS. “We are delighted that this truly groundbreaking technology is now being tested live.”

Dr Paul Cundy, chairman of the BMA’s GPC IT committee said: "This is an historic landmark in GP IT, indeed the NHS in general. It will be an enormous benefit for patients and practices alike and is a very welcome component of the modernisation agenda.

"This first live patient record transfer would not have been achieved without the close working relationship between the Joint GP IT Committee of the GPC, clinicians and the GP-to-GP project team of NHS Connecting for Health."

Riddell told EHI PC that the advent of GP-to-GP record transfers showed it was possible to have full interoperability between clinical data and records on local systems, and have them operate with the central services – such as the NHS spine – being delivered under the NHS National Programme for IT.

"CfH is providing what will be one of the greatest success stories of the whole programme through existing suppliers," said Riddell.

The CfH GP-to-GP project team will now continue to prove the solution in conjunction with the GPC and the RCGP through the Joint GP IT Committee.

The next major milestone in the project will be to transfer a complete patient record between a practice running EMIS software and one running software from InPractice Systems. A spokesperson for Connecting for Health said: "Work is happening on this at the moment, live trials will commence in the new year."