New ICO advice on handling Subject Access Requests
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have recently released a blog containing further advice for GPs and practices on the right of access for patients, commonly called Subject Access Requests (SARs). The blog is titled 'Why the right of access to patient data needn't be a headache for GPs'. It recognises that since May 2018 practices have been receiving an increasing number of SARs, particularly from third parties, eg solicitors and insurers. The blog offers practical advice and tips for practices in dealing with these requests.
The new national GP Contract also recognises the pressure that the increase in SARs has had on general practice and a three-year annual Global Sum uplift of £20 million has been agreed to acknowledge the workload burden of SARs on practices. NHS England believes that the digitalisation of current Lloyd-George paper records will be completed in three years. Once it is completed, patients will then have online access to their electronic and digitalised records and will be able to directly access the relevant SARs information themselves.
Last updated : 17 Apr 2019NHS Property Services update February 2021 (24 Feb 2021)
Following a recent legal challenge by the BMA, NHS Property Services (NHSPS) may no longer rely on its charging policy as a sole legal basis to increase charges on practices...Integrated Care Systems, NHS legislation proposals and Standard Contract changes (24 Feb 2021)
Recent weeks have seen a number of NHS structural changes proposed and/or consulted on by NHSE and the Department for Health and Social Care. On 11 February the Government published...Londonwide LMCs' February 2021 Newsletter (24 Feb 2021)
...Changes to insurance cover (23 Feb 2021)
Practices are advised to check the cover provided under insurance renewals following the recent Covid-19 pandemic. We are aware that some insurers are removing cover for claims arising from pandemic...Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (CVP) - sharing the learning (18 Feb 2021)
Londonwide LMCs represents and supports GPs and their practice teams across 27 of London’s boroughs. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic we have been supporting our constituents in a...GP patient survey 2021 (02 Feb 2021)
Patients will be receiving their invitations to take part in the annual national survey about their experiences of local NHS services. The survey is sent to over a million people...EMIS update on Covid-19 vaccination notifications (27 Jan 2021)
EMIS ran a software update on 12 January which means that Covid-19 vaccination data should be automatically filed out in GP patient records. Further information and access to Covid-19 vaccinations...Paper Lloyd George envelopes to cease for first time NHS registrations (27 Jan 2021)
Since the start of January 2021 practices no longer receive a new paper Lloyd George envelope for a first time registration such as a baby or new entrants to the...Meeting London MPs (27 Jan 2021)
This month representatives from Harrow LMC, Camden LMC, Londonwide LMCs staff and local GPs met with Parliamentarians including Bob Blackman MP, Sir Keir Starmer MP and Labour’s health spokesman Jonathan...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.
follow us on...
