Meddbase and the NHS: Supplier Update Q1 2021

Meddbase and the NHS: Our NHS Programme Updates 

As you may be aware, here at Meddbase we have been working with NHS Digital for a number of years on a variety of projects to integrate some of Meddbase’s functionality with NHS public health records.

These projects include the development of a fully compliant solution offering independent GPs the ability to view their patients’ NHS records, facilitating a more joined up approach to patient care.

We’ve also been working on a follow-up phase to this work which will allow independent GPs to send information and documentation to the NHS patient record, as well as advancing our Meddbase Lite offering, and continuing to test NHS adaptors, to facilitate interoperability.

Here we will update you on the progress of each of these projects, and summarise their aims and benefits as well as their timelines.

GP Connect Update

The development of the Meddbase GP Connect service, connecting private GPs with NHS primary care providers, is set against the backdrop of the CQC report on Private Hospitals that highlights the need for independent GPs to be able to access their patient’s NHS records. This is key to improving clinical safety  – especially in relation to prescribing and allergies.

We are happy to announce that this project is on track and we will be ready to pilot phase 1 in Spring/Summer 2021.  Phase 1 functionality allows a private GP to view their patient’s NHS record within Meddbase, once consent from the patient themselves has been gained.

We are also working behind the scenes to build on this work with a Phase 2, which we call the ‘Send Document’ phase. This will allow the GP to send any documentation, in PDF form, to the patient’s NHS GP. This information can then be stored within the patient’s NHS record and accessed when needed by their NHS primary care practice.

Meddbase Lite Update

We are also finalising the compliance process with NHS Digital on our Meddbase Lite product, which should be available on the NHS Buying Catalogue in July 2021. This will make Meddbase the first new entrant onto the catalogue in over 12 years, and the only cloud-native supplier.

Meddbase Lite offers NHS organisations access to any patient’s medical record on the Spine, offering the flexibility to provide care to patients who are not registered with your practice or who have not previously received care from your organisation.  Access will be via soft token smartcards. NHS-compliant access to the ‘SPINE’ means you can review the patient’s medical record, and notes can be taken during the consultation and saved directly into the patient record. Safeguards are in place, as all activity is fully audited. This enterprise appointment solution also offers a sophisticated telemedicine component which has been piloted successfully with our private sector client base.

We are continuing to work through the NHS’s rigorous capability compliance process and have so far gone through compliance for two of the capabilities, those centred around resource management and referral management, and have passed. As we look forward to the rest of 2021 we will continue to work alongside the NHS to fulfil the various capabilities.

As part of Meddbase’s ongoing NHS Programme we are continuing to work as one of the National Adaptor Integration Test Partners. This is a research and development programme which is aimed at addressing the issue of legacy technology and APIs used by the Spine, and the challenges faced by new market entrants who are looking to integrate with the Spine and offer services to the NHS.

Meddbase is one of only two national test partners who are laying the groundwork by testing these adaptors, thereby unlocking the potential for new market entrants to access the NHS APIs and help diversify the market and facilitate digital healthcare transformation. This work is on track and due to end in April 2021.

For more information on the work Meddbase is doing alongside the NHS visit the NHS page of the Meddbase website, read our news section and Meddbase blog, or book a demo.