Roll-out of GP Connect: Access Record
NHS England has announced that GP Connect Access Record: Structured is being rolled out to hundreds of community pharmacies. This functionality enables pharmacies to view real-time, read-only information from patient records held by GP practices, supporting timely and informed care.
The rollout is being coordinated by the four assured Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) IT suppliers in collaboration with NHS England.
What is Access Record: Structured?
Community pharmacy professionals using a CPCF IT system with the feature can now view essential patient data directly within their IT system, at the point of consultation, including:
- Medications
- Uncategorised health information (e.g. weight, height, body mass index, pulse rate, smoking status, alcohol intake, and blood pressure readings)
- Investigations
Pharmacy professionals can also continue to access the National Care Records Service (NCRS) and Shared Care Records (where applicable) to support direct patient care.
Service specifications, such as the Pharmacy First specification, require pharmacy professionals to review pertinent patient record information for each patient receiving the service. The use of Access Record: Structured provides a more efficient alternative to accessing information via the NCRS portal.
Further information for pharmacy and general practice can be found within:
- the newly published Digital Transformation of Primary Care Slide Pack (April 2025) which includes important new guidance about Access Record, Update Record and the Booking and Referral Standard (BaRS)
- our GP Connect: Access Record webpage.
Pharmacy IT supplier rollout
The Cegedim (Pharmacy Services) IT system has started rollout across its pharmacy customers.
NHS England is working with Positive Solutions (HxConsult), Sonar Informatics, and Optum (formerly EMIS) (PharmOutcomes) to finalise testing and rollout plans for their systems.
Community pharmacy professionals with questions or comments on the new functionality should direct these to their IT system supplier.
