SystmOne has updated its record-sharing feature following questions over whether GPs were in breach of data protection legislation after activating a record-sharing feature in the IT system.
According to a letter from the BMA and RCGP joint GP IT committee, TPP’s SystmOne have piloted ‘new functionalities’ that give GPs ‘additional controls through which GPs can properly discharge their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act and under the soon to be introduced Data Protection Act 2018’.
The new features, which have been approved by the BMA, RCGP, NHS Digital, NHS England and TPP, were successfully piloted and are set to be rolled out to all GPs between 5 and 26 February.
The update come after Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) told Pulse that it had ‘data protection compliance concerns’ about SystmOne’s enhanced data sharing function allowing hospitals, care homes and community services to access GP records and leave their own notes.
Dr Paul Cundy, the BMA’s GPC IT lead, then urged GPs to consider switching off the patient record sharing function – advice that was not supported by the ICO.
In response, to the criticism, TPP said it would ‘make amendments’ to it’s record audit function allowing patients see who has accessed their record.
The joint GP IT committee added that SystmOne would also be removing the consent override function from all its sites on 22 March 2018.
The committee said: ‘The BMA is confident that these enhancements will offer its members the tools they need to ensure that they comply with the DPA but at the same time support care of their patients through appropriate sharing.’
