STORY
The Government has said its NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce a single patient record in England, allowing NHS providers including hospitals and GPs to share patient information more effectively. Ministers said the reform could mean up to 20,000 fewer A&E attendances and 6,000 fewer hospital admissions each year.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the measure would reduce the need for patients to repeat their medical history and would give clinicians a fuller picture of medicines, allergies and previous treatment. The Government said it could save more than £20 million a year by reducing medication errors, adverse drug reactions and duplicate prescribing.
The Bill is also intended to reduce bureaucracy by formally transferring NHS England’s functions into the Department and the wider health system. Ministers said the legislation forms part of the Government’s ten-year plan for the NHS, while professional bodies and campaigners are expected to scrutinise its implications for data protection and patient voice.