The National Health Service (NHS) in England has approved a new electronic patient record system for general practitioners (GPs), the first major update to core IT systems in 25 years.
This development is set to enhance the integration of primary care with other healthcare settings and improve service delivery using cloud-based technology.
The newly approved system created by Medicus Health is now accessible to GP practices across England, signalling the "first shake-up of the GP IT market in a quarter of a century", according to NHS leaders.
The move is expected to increase competition, drive productivity, and reduce administrative burdens for healthcare staff.
Historically, GP practices had limited options, with only two suppliers dominating the market.
Four early-adopting sites are already utilising the new core clinical IT system, covering over 42,000 patients.
Medicus Health's system is the first to be fully assured through NHS England’s Tech Innovation Framework, which guarantees compliance with information governance, clinical safety, and data protection standards, while also integrating with essential NHS services.
NHS Primary Care and Community Services national director Amanda Doyle said: “This new generation of systems is the first shake-up of the GP IT market we have seen in a quarter of a century, and this shift will help unlock more modern, joined-up care for patients, and help our staff to work better and smarter.”
Wilmslow Health Centre in Cheshire, serving more than 16,000 patients, is among the first to implement the new system.
Medicus Health's platform is notable for its compatibility with 24 national NHS services and its adoption of five new national open standards for information exchange.
The interest in these new systems is spreading, with more than 25 integrated care boards considering their adoption.
The NHS anticipates that by April 2026, additional core GP IT systems that meet the Tech Innovation Framework's standards will be available, broadening the choices for practices.
