Single patient record is ‘giant leap forward’, says home care expert

A home care expert has applauded a new plan for full medical records, tests results and letters from doctors to become available in the NHS App.

The government announcement comes as part of a ‘national conversation’ to inform a 10-year plan for a ‘digital revolution in the health service in England’, due to be published in the spring.

Josh Hough, founder and CEO of home care software company CareLineLive, said: “Having a single, integrated patient record as standard has the potential to transform patient care.

“We know that individuals working in the home care industry can spend an inordinate amount of time chasing up GPs. One of our customers, as a registered home care manager, told us recently that she spends up to three hours a day chasing up GPs for records.”

Born with the rare muscle weakening illness Minicore Myopathy, Hough went to school in a wheelchair. Often exasperated by the inefficiencies of the healthcare system, the experience led Hough, as an adult, to set up his own business designed to streamline patient care.

“The government is absolutely right to think this move will speed up patient care, reduce repeat tests and medical errors which can severely affect a patient’s future,” said Hough.

“We see these kinds of pointless delays all the time, it’s crystal clear that the right kind of technology can transform the daily lives of patients and of those managing their care.”

Hough’s own company, CareLineLive, has launched an integration with the NHS ‘GP Connect’ service, allowing authorised health and social care workers in England to access their patient’s GP records such as problems and issues, allergies and adverse reactions and medications.

He said: “The integration we’re launching with GP Connect has parallels with the proposed plan for the NHS App. It’s all about making patient records accessible and transparent for everyone who needs to see them and it’s a natural progression for those working in healthcare.

“Allowing speedy access to patient records for health professionals can literally mean the difference between life and death. Any plan to make this the standard for the healthcare system is a giant leap forward for patient care.”

Further information about CareLineLive’s integration with GP Connect can be found on CareLineLive’s website at: https://carelinelive.com/our-solution/gp-connect-integration/