A recent deal concerning a patient record system used by most GP practices in England has drawn attention to a broader issue within the NHS. Sensitive patient data systems are consistently being managed by a small number of large suppliers.
Professor Erika Denton, an honorary professor of radiology, suggests that the focus should be on building upon existing progress to reduce the risk associated with the ownership of any single system. NHS England's initiatives, such as guidance on AI-enabled tools and proposed health bill provisions for a single patient record, are seen as steps in the right direction.
Further recommendations include ensuring data is hosted in the UK, requiring clinician sign-off before patient record changes, and establishing an audit trail for regulators and patients. The importance of a genuinely competitive market with open, standards-based systems is also highlighted to prevent patient records from being tied to a single vendor.
The NHS has started to integrate accountability into its work with suppliers. Extending this standard consistently to all suppliers, regardless of their location, for open interoperability and clear governance, is proposed to protect the system from the decisions of any single company.