Leeds heralds launch of GP Connect

Leeds has become the first city to go live with a platform which promises to make information held within a patient’s GP record available across all care settings.

GP Connect enables clinicians in community, mental health and acute trusts to access primary care data on their patients.

It is also designed to make it easier to manage appointments, by providing clinicians in secondary settings with the ability to book GP appointments for their patients.

In future, GP Connect will be used to provide secure access to structured medications and allergies information in a patient’s record.

Alistair Walling, chief clinical information officer for Leeds said, “We have embraced GP Connect in Leeds because it helps to deliver truly patient-centred care.

“Using the technology to provide timely information to care professionals when supporting patients’ care whether at home, in the community or hospital helps provide safer and better care.

“We have a clear vision in Leeds to be the best city for health and wellbeing and digital achievement of this nature really help us to deliver our goals for our patients.”

GP Connect is an NHS Digital programme. It has been rolled out in Leeds by EMIS Health, which worked with Leeds Teaching Hospitals to integrate the system and enable use across health and care partners in the city.

Cath Johnson, clinical lead in GP Connect at NHS Digital, said: “Going live in Leeds is a great achievement for all involved and we are delighted that GP Connect is now being used to improve patient experience and care across the city.”

Shaun O’Hanlon, chief medical officer of EMIS Group, added: “We are delighted to work with NHS Digital to enable interoperability across systems via GP Connect. The pilot at Leeds Teaching Hospitals is a great example of how giving clinicians vital information in real time enables better informed decisions and safer patient care.”