Ministers have stated that allowing NHS providers in England to share patient health data could lead to 20,000 fewer A&E attendances each year and generate £20 million in annual savings. The claims come ahead of the second reading of the NHS modernisation bill on Monday. The legislation would also abolish NHS England and introduce single patient records for everyone receiving health and social care in England. It would require GPs and hospitals to exchange data securely under the government’s 10-year health plan. Officials estimate that combining these records with virtual care would reduce A&E visits by frail patients by around 10,000 annually, while another 10,000 fewer attendances would result from fewer misdiagnoses. This change is projected to free up roughly 500,000 hours of doctors’ time each year, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. The department further forecasts 6,000 fewer hospital admissions yearly through avoided A&E visits, improved heart failure management and better mental health support. Savings of £20 million are expected from fewer medication errors, adverse drug reactions and duplicate prescriptions. The bill provides a legal framework for these steps. Maternity and frailty services are due to benefit from 2027 onward. All NHS organisations, including hospitals and GP practices, would share records so clinicians can view a patient’s full history without repeated explanations. The system would also link community services and help individuals manage long-term conditions. Patients would gain greater control over their information, supported by safeguards, audit trails and options for data use. Records from social care and private providers contracted by the NHS would be included. Currently GPs act as data controllers and may share records with third parties for research. The DHSC is expected to assume a similar role once records enter the shared system. The British Medical Association has urged that doctors retain control of GP data rather than transferring it to the DHSC, warning that any shift could erode trust and compromise confidentiality. The new system is designed with built-in security and privacy features, allowing users to see who has accessed each record while following existing clinical rules on sharing. Health secretary James Murray said the system must be built to maintain public confidence, with strict legal safeguards, limited access, audit trails and strong cybersecurity. The bill will transfer NHS England’s functions to the DHSC to reduce bureaucracy and support local decision-making through integrated care boards. NHS Online, a virtual hospital model launching in 2027, aims to deliver the equivalent of 8.5 million appointments via the NHS app in its first three years. Former health secretary Wes Streeting is expected to argue that further reductions in waiting times require both investment and reform, including technology adoption and productivity gains.
