The guidelines for good practice have been updated to version 5, with the first batch of topics  now accessible to GP practices through the Digital Primary Care: The Good Practice Guidelines for electronic patient records (version 5). These guidelines provide the latest information to GP practices on how to effectively use digital tools and services while ensuring safety and compliance with the law and national standards.

Digital systems are essential in building a modern, efficient, and responsive health service. The information flow between care providers and patients is crucial to achieving a safe, personalized, and convenient health and care service. General Practice is at the forefront of modernizing and improving healthcare, and leading the way in embracing digital transformation and innovation. This is demonstrated through an advanced level of digital record-keeping and the adoption of digital tools that meet the growing demand from patients for a choice of digital channels.

This provides various benefits, including improved care and access for patients, reduction of administrative burdens, and other efficiency benefits. The guidelines provide practical information about digital tools, approaches, and services to General Practice and primary care providers. The content has been written and reviewed by teams of primary care clinicians and managers with knowledge, expertise, and experience. The guidelines include all guidance associated with GP Electronic records, including patient records and information systems functionality, clinical safety, information governance and data protection, data sharing and interoperability, online patient-facing services, education and training, working in a digitally transformed NHS, and NHS organizations with an impact on Digital General Practice.

The guidelines have been updated to reflect modern general practice. The patients benefit from consistency of experience and access to safe and secure digital services.

Benefits for GP practices

One place for all guidance associated with GP Electronic records, including:

• Patient records and information systems functionality
• Clinical safety
• Information governance and data protection
• Data sharing and interoperability
• Online patient-facing services
• Education and training
• Working in a digitally transformed NHS
• NHS organisations with an impact on Digital General Practice
• Updated to reflect modern general practice

Benefits for patients

• Consistency of experience and access
• Access to safe and secure digital services