Key Summary
- Developed by Medicus Health, the cloud-based core IT system will support the integration of primary care with care homes and vaccination centres
- At present, GP practices in England had a choice of just two suppliers for the IT system they use to manage patient care
- Medicus Health is the first supplier to be fully assured through NHS England’s Tech Innovation Framework
NHS England has approved the first of a new generation of electronic patient record systems for GPs, hoping to boost competition and productivity.
Developed by Medicus Health, this cloud-based core IT system will support integrating primary care with other settings, including care homes and vaccination centres.
It can be used on different devices such as tablets, supporting the delivery of neighbourhood care and helping doctors meet their patients’ needs.
In recent years, GP practices in England have largely had a choice of just two suppliers for the IT system they use to manage patient care.
Medicus Health's core clinical IT system will be available to practices across the country, with the system already live in four early-adopting sites, serving over 42,000 patients.
NHS national director of primary care and community services Dr Amanda Doyle said, “This new generation of systems is the first shake-up of the GP IT market we have seen in a quarter of a century."
She hoped this shift would help unlock more modern, joined-up care for patients and help their staff to work better and smarter.
Medicus Health is the first supplier to be fully assured through NHS England’s Tech Innovation Framework.
The platform integrates with 24 national NHS services and is the first to implement five new national open standards for information exchange, including for electronic prescriptions and referrals.
More than 25 integrated care boards are exploring how they can support the adoption of these new systems, with interest growing across the country.
It is expected that more core GP IT systems that meet the standards of the Tech Innovation Framework will become available by April 2026, offering a wider choice for practices.
One of the first practices to adopt the new system was Wilmslow Health Centre in Cheshire.
Dr Amar Ahmed, GP Partner at Wilmslow Health Centre, said: “I can access patient records instantly, making consultations smoother, and as we get more familiar with the system, we expect to see even greater benefits – more informed decisions, quick access to the right information, and a better overall experience for our patients and staff."
NHS Confederation primary care director Ruth Rankine welcomed the approval of a new IT system for GPs.
“The approval of a new IT system for GPs is great news for the primary care sector and reflects the issues we have been advocating for on behalf of our primary care members, who have been left frustrated by the limited choice and functionality of current systems," she said.
"This is a significant and encouraging step towards delivering on the ambitions of primary care leaders to work in a more integrated and collaborative way across neighbourhood teams," she added.
