The 31 October 2023 is the date by which practices must have provided their patients with the facility to access their prospective GP record online. 

GPC England remains concerned about the potential risks of providing the facility to all patients irrespective of patients’ preferences. We remain in discussion with NHS England about how the programme can be rolled out safely. 

The BMA plan to issue comprehensive guidance for practices this week (w/c 2 October) outlining the steps that practices can take to prepare before 1 November. NHSE and the DHSC have assured that commissioners will be expected to implement this programme in a supportive way. 

The BMA is undertaking a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) relating to this programme and will be providing guidance for practices needing to undertake their own. A DPIA can be used by practices to assess the risks potentially posed by the new requirements, and support decisions they may wish to make about how to provide the facility in the safest possible way. 

There are a number of on-line resources already available, including the RCGP toolkit.