NHS Summary Care Record API Integration

6B partners with NHS providers, primary and secondary care organisations, and digital health innovators to implement secure, standards-compliant SCR API integrations. Our support spans discovery and onboarding, through development and clinical safety assurance, to go live and long term service delivery.

Understanding the Summary Care Record API

The Summary Care Record is a central NHS repository of vital patient data, derived from GP medical records and synchronised via the NHS Spine. The SCR API allows authorised applications to read, and in some cases update, essential data such as current medications, allergies, and adverse reactions using either FHIR or HL7 V3 formats.

Access through the API is limited to authorised clinical systems, with strict role-based access, smartcard or modern authentication, and adherence to governance policies. The FHIR API also supports consent management and privacy alerts, allowing applications to respect patient preferences while maintaining care quality.

Our SCR API Integration Process

6B delivers structured and secure SCR integrations through the following approach:

Feasibility and onboarding – We begin by assessing whether your product requires FHIR-only read access or HL7 V3 writing capability. Our team will guide you through SCR access registration and technical assurance processes.

Solution and data flow design – Working with both technical teams and clinicians, we map SCR use cases such as allergy checks or medication verification onto the relevant API endpoints within a compliant framework.

API development and security configuration – We implement key operations including SCR retrieval, updating patient consent, and issuing privacy alerts. Security is configured using OAuth 2.0, smartcard access, or OpenID Connect depending on your setup.

Testing and clinical safety assurance – We carry out development in NHS sandbox environments and support testing in live test settings. We also prepare required clinical safety documentation and support your SCAL submission.

Go live and ongoing support – Once your integration is live, we remain on hand to support you with performance monitoring, incident response, and compliance updates so that your integration remains secure and reliable over time.

Benefits of SCR API Integration

Integrating the SCR API allows clinicians to access essential patient data instantly, without delays or workarounds. This improves safety, particularly when making prescribing decisions or treating patients in urgent or unfamiliar care settings.

It reduces administrative burden by eliminating the need for manual calls to GP practices and simplifies access to consistent and accurate information. This helps healthcare professionals make faster and more informed decisions, enhancing overall patient care.

For digital health organisations, SCR integration increases interoperability, improves NHS procurement readiness, and supports the secure handling of clinical data in line with national requirements.