Patient Online – prepare now for next year’s contractual deadline
As you know, promoting the use of online appointment booking and online repeat prescription ordering are contractual requirements for Patient Online. These are routinely offered to patients in London.
From 1 April 2016 practices are expected to fulfil the current contractual requirement to provide online access to GP records for those patients who request it. Online access will be extended from the current access to repeat prescriptions, allergies and adverse reactions to access to all coded data within a patient’s record. The inclusion of free text is not a contractual requirement but may be useful in certain circumstances (explaining test results out of range for example).
EMIS and TPP’s latest releases now provide the functionality to support the contractual requirements. It is expected that INPS and Microtest releases will be available in time to allow practices to meet these obligations. Practices will not be expected to fulfil this contractual requirement if they do not have access to computer systems and software which would enable them to offer the online services.
A statement from the Patient on Line team confirms:
“GPSoC has assured the Detailed Coded Record elements from the Framework Requirements in EMIS Release 5.5 to 5.8 (available now) and TPP Release MR 116 (planned release to be available from 9 Dec 2015) for clinical safety, information governance and functionality. These elements have been confirmed by NHS England to meet the GMS contractual requirements for 2015/16.
HSCIC and NHS England are continuing to work with INPS and Microtest to secure timely delivery of system functionality for access to detailed coded records.”
You will need time and help to understand the practicalities and the implications of this. Currently NHS England’s (NHSE) Patient Online programme is providing support to practices to understand and deliver these commitments. Support for London is provided by Implementation Lead, Richard Ince, and Digital Clinical Champion, east London GP, Dr Phil Koczan.
It is a good idea to contact your system provider now to find out more information on how to deliver online access to patient records in a safe and consistent way.
NHS England are currently hosting additional webinar sessions to provide advice on how you can benefit from providing online services to patients. The webinars are interactive and provide an opportunity to ask questions, learn from other practices and find out how to access support locally. Visit the NHS England website for further information.
There is also a contractual requirement for practices to issue a statement of intent in relation to these new services. This should be done as soon as possible.
If you have any queries, or would like to discuss Patient Online in more detail, please contact Richard Ince at richard.ince@nhs.net.
Further information is also available by clicking on the following links:
Last updated : 17 Feb 2016Setting the future framework for your Patient Participation Group, event for practice managers and PPG leads, 25 January 2017 (06 Dec 2016)
Mword 31 - We have your backs (01 Dec 2016)
1 December...Meeting with David Burrowes MP (24 Nov 2016)
On 4 November Dr Michelle Drage met David Burrowes, the Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate, at the Gillan House Surgery in his constituency. They were joined by Dr Vicky Weeks,...Health Select Committee winter pressure report endorses community general practice model (24 Nov 2016)
On 3 November the Health Select Committee released its report Winter pressure in accident and emergency departments. The main findings reflect our concerns that lack of support for community...PCSE Performers List problems and alternative arrangements (24 Nov 2016)
All GP trainees, newly qualified GPs and GPs applying to join the Medical Performers’ List should be aware of the following issues: GPs are not lawfully allowed to perform any...New GPC Co-Commissioning Guidance (24 Nov 2016)
The BMA General Practitioners Committee have issued a guidance update for GP practices and LMCs in England about options for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to take greater commissioning control (“co-commissioning”),...2016 Autumn Statement and Dr Michelle Drage's response (24 Nov 2016)
Yesterday (Wednesday) Chancellor, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, delivered his first, and last, Autumn Statement. From 2017 there will be a Spring statement responding the Spring OBR report and an...November 2016 newsletter out now (24 Nov 2016)
Our November 2016 workforce survey is now live (24 Nov 2016)
Thank you in advance for making space in your hectic day to complete our short survey on practice workforce issues which will help us to gather insight to share with...Patient participation workshops starting in the New Year (24 Nov 2016)
Our Patient Engagement project has been working with practices and patient participation group (PPG) members to identify the benefits and challenges involved in developing active and effective PPGs. As a...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...
