The new single patient record will save £110m over the next 10 years, according to an impact assessment accompanying publication of the NHS bill, HSJ has reported.
The plan for a shared system would see its “largest benefits” in reducing reporting costs for patient safety incidents (£54m), a reduction in duplicated tests and procedures (£22m), and time saved in accessing records (£11m).
It also said better information sharing could reduce clinical negligence claims and “improve patients’ adherence to treatment and medication plans”.
The impact assessment set that against the costs to software providers on familiarisation with the new system.
The Health Bill, laid in Parliament yesterday, would give sweeping new powers to the health and social care secretary, Care Quality Commission, or delegated bodies to “require[e] or authoris[e] the disclosure or other processing of patient information, or information held in connection with it, for the purpose of making it available through the [SPR] system”.
The legislation would also give various bodies – including a potential new national special health authority – the power to “impose financial penalties” if they refuse to release data, although it is not clear who would be fined.
Date: 17 May