Coronavirus test results now visible to GPs

Coronavirus test results are now being automatically sent to GP systems as well as being communicated to the individual, giving GPs visibility of which of their patients have had COVID-19 tests and whether they have tested positive or negative.

NHS Digital says that patients who use online patient services such as the NHS App and who have requested full access to their GP medical records will now be able to access their results themselves, as well as receiving their results via communication from the NHS Business Service Authority as before.

The results will appear in patient’s record as a laboratory test result but appear in a way that makes them easily distinguishable from other types of test results.

The new data flow utilises EMIS Health’s Keystone product - which provides messaging of clinical and administrative data such as pathology – with data now flowing into the systems of 95 per cent of GP surgeries and the remaining five per cent due to go live soon.

Richard Ashcroft, programme director at NHS Digital, said: “We have worked quickly to ensure this technology can be put in place so that GPs are kept informed about coronavirus tests being undertaken by their patients, while making sure it is done simply, with as little additional admin for GP practice staff as possible. We would like to thank EMIS Health for working with us to deliver this at speed using their Keystone product.

“Many patients would regard it as a given that their test results should automatically appear in their GP medical record, but the technological work behind the scenes with a brand new system such as that delivering the testing programme is considerable.”