Written by Paul Brown | Last updated 21.06.2025 | 5 minute read
The NHS in England has been progressively enhancing interoperability across its healthcare systems to ensure seamless sharing of patient information. A pivotal component of this initiative is the GP Connect API, which facilitates authorised health and social care professionals in accessing and managing patient data held within General Practitioner (GP) systems. For developers and technical teams aiming to integrate with GP Connect, a comprehensive understanding of its architecture, capabilities, and implementation nuances is essential.
GP Connect is designed to bridge the information gap between disparate healthcare systems by providing standardised APIs that enable real-time access to GP-held patient records in EMIS and SystmOne. This standardisation ensures that clinicians, regardless of their organisational affiliation, can retrieve and, in certain scenarios, update patient information to support direct care. The API suite encompasses various functionalities, including:
Access Record HTML: Offers a read-only HTML view of a patient’s GP record, allowing clinicians to quickly review comprehensive patient information.
Access Record Structured: Provides structured, coded data retrieval from GP records, facilitating integration into clinical systems and supporting functionalities like decision support and analytics.
Access Document: Enables retrieval of documents attached to a patient’s GP record, such as referral letters or discharge summaries.
Appointment Management: Allows for the booking, amendment, and cancellation of GP appointments across different systems.
Update Record: Permits authorised systems, particularly in community pharmacy settings, to send structured updates to a patient’s GP record.
Each of these capabilities is underpinned by specific API specifications, which are detailed in the GP Connect specifications for developers: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/gp-connect/develop-gp-connect-services/specifications-for-developers.
The GP Connect APIs are built upon the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard, ensuring a consistent and modern approach to healthcare data exchange. This alignment with FHIR facilitates interoperability and eases the integration process for systems already familiar with this standard.
Key architectural components include:
RESTful API Design: Utilising standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), the APIs provide predictable and uniform interfaces for interacting with GP systems.
Transport Layer Security (TLS): All data exchanges are secured using TLS/HTTPS, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of patient information during transmission.
Spine Integration: GP Connect operates in conjunction with the NHS Spine, the central infrastructure that supports various NHS services. This integration ensures that API requests are appropriately routed to the correct GP systems based on patient registration details.
For a deeper dive into the technical standards and implementation guidance, developers should refer to the General API guidance: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/gp-connect/develop-gp-connect-services/development/general-api-guidance.
Integrating with GP Connect requires careful planning and adherence to several prerequisites:
Network Access: Systems must have connectivity to the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) to interact with GP Connect services.
Personal Demographics Service (PDS) Compliance: To accurately identify and match patients, systems should be capable of performing PDS lookups, either directly or via third-party services.
Information Governance: Organisations must comply with the GP Connect Direct Care API Information Governance Model, ensuring that patient data is accessed and handled appropriately.
Clinical Safety: A Clinical Safety Officer (CSO) should oversee the integration process, ensuring that the system adheres to clinical safety standards such as DCB0129 and, if applicable, DCB0160.
Before embarking on development, it’s advisable to engage with the GP Connect programme team to discuss specific use cases and ensure alignment with NHS requirements. This proactive approach can help streamline the onboarding and assurance processes.
Robust testing is a cornerstone of successful integration. The GP Connect programme provides several resources to facilitate this:
These tools are accessible through the GP Connect demonstrator and developer tools.
To integrate with GP Connect, organisations must follow a structured onboarding process:
Throughout this process, the GP Connect team provides support and guidance to facilitate a smooth integration journey.
Integrating with GP Connect offers numerous advantages:
Enhanced Clinical Decision-Making: Timely access to comprehensive patient records in EMIS and SystmOne supports informed clinical decisions.
Improved Care Coordination: Sharing patient information across care settings ensures continuity and reduces duplication of efforts.
Operational Efficiency: Automated data retrieval and updates minimise administrative burdens, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care.
Patient Empowerment: Upcming patient-facing functionalities aim to provide individuals with better access to their medical records, enhancing transparency and encouraging active participation in their healthcare management.
GP Connect is transforming healthcare interoperability in the NHS by providing secure, standardised access to patient records in EMIS and SystmOne. By adopting these APIs, healthcare providers can improve care coordination, reduce administrative overhead, and enhance patient outcomes.
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