GP health records in the App

All GP surgeries are required to give all patients in England online access to new information as it is added to their GP health record.

Patients with online accounts, such as through the NHS App, should be able to read new entries, including free text, in their health record. This applies to future (prospective) record entries and not historic data.

Patients can find out how to access their GP health records on the NHS website 

Better access to health information enables people to better understand and manage their health.

Automatic sharing of this information reduces administrative burden for GPs as fewer patients will need to contact them to get test results and referral notifications manually.

It also improves data quality within patient record by enabling patients to flag if they think there are inaccuracies in their record.

In some cases, such as positive test results, patients will not be able to see the information until it has been checked and filed, giving GPs the chance to contact and speak to patients first.

A GP will review results from a test before uploading to the patient’s health record. This means that if results are sensitive or contain potentially upsetting news, the GP will try to speak to the patient before uploading onto their health record.

In some cases, the patient might see results before a doctor or nurse has had a chance to speak to them. Where this happens, the doctor or nurse will try to contact them as soon as possible. It might be that the test results are only slightly abnormal and are of little consequence, so we would always recommend that patients discuss test results they are concerned about with their GP.

While enabling patients to view their records through the NHS App benefits the majority of patients, there may be challenges and potential risks for a minority. This is especially true in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults, as the record may contain information that is confidential and sensitive, which the patient must not see, or could be harmful if the patient is unable to keep their record secure, such as, in cases of coercion.

These patients may already have a safeguarding or related care plan in place, and may already be known to their GP and have a related clinical code in their record indicating potential to experience harm.

Some at risk patients may not be known to general practice and individuals’ circumstances can change to place them at risk. When risk is identified, record access should be considered as part of wider safeguarding planning to maintain safety and reduce the risk of harm. 

Find out more about Clinical safety, safeguarding and the NHS App

Watch the Accelerating Patient Access Safeguarding webinar (you will need a NHSFutures account to view this webinar) 

Read more about SNOMED codes (you will need a NHSFutures account to open this page)