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Legislation could go before parliament in the coming year that would facilitate the creation a single patient record (SPR) connecting hospitals, GP surgeries and other care providers, Labour has said. 

The SPR legislation pledge, announced in King Charles’ speech today (May 13) to open the new parliamentary session, will form part of an NHS Modernisation Bill that will also see the abolition of the arm’s length organisation that operates NHS England. 

The Government previously announced the SPR would be rolled out by 2028 but later admitted that it was “possible that the project takes longer than expected” due to the complexity of getting it off the ground. 

It is now thought that the SPR will be launched to some parts of the NHS as early as 2027.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said: “As patients, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to repeat your medical history at every appointment. 

“When paramedics arrive to heart attack and stroke patients, they can’t see the patients’ medical records, putting them in even greater danger.

“For the first time ever, the SPR will mean patients are given real control over their care through a single, secure and authoritative account of their data. 

“It will be a gamechanger that means NHS staff can see patients’ medical records, allowing them to deliver better care faster and more conveniently, and even saving lives.”

Amandeep Doll, director for England with the Royal College of Pharmacy, said pharmacists must be prioritised for SPR access, commenting: “The move towards a single patient record, as promised in the 10-year plan, will mean that vital information follows people wherever they access the NHS. 

“With pharmacists providing ever more clinical services, managing long-term conditions, optimising medicines and preventing harm, it’s essential they are included in access to the record from the outset. 

“Too often, pharmacists must make decisions without full insight of a patient’s medical history, recent hospital admissions or changes to treatment, which creates avoidable risks. 

“Having read-write access to a single patient record is critical to safer, better-informed decisions which will improve care for patients.”  

The British Medical Association raised concerns about the forthcoming legislation, with BMA general practice committee chair Dr Katie Bramall saying her organisation “has not been part of the discussions on what form the SPR will take, who will be granted access, the purposes for which it will be used or which company will be contracted to operate it”. 

She added: “Until the security of any data flows can be guaranteed, and full patient-facing audit trails are made available via the NHS App showing who has accessed confidential medical data and why, we remain concerned.”

Gerard Hanratty, a partner at law firm Browne Jacobson, echoed these concerns, commenting: “The NHS must address data security, patient privacy, and the digital divide – and it must be transparent with the public about the benefits of data sharing.

“With AI earmarked for a major role in the 10-Year Health Plan, clear ethical guidelines and rigorous governance frameworks are essential.”