Speaking ahead of this week's NHS ConfedExpo, Sir Ciarán called for the Health Bill to ‘provide clarity on data controllership and liability for each function of the SPR.

He said there were ‘concerns over privacy, security and safety of data', adding the  ‘importance of winning the trust of NHS staff and the public cannot be over-stated'.

Sir Ciarán said: ‘An SPR creates new risk for GPs for data sharing beyond their direct control, while shifting aspects of data controllership to the secretary of state or national bodies risks a disconnect between those exercising control over the system and GPs carrying legal responsibility.'

He added: ‘We need the public to feel confident that the system is in safe hands, that their data will be secure, with clear and effective safeguards on how it is used. But above and beyond that we need to win the trust and support of NHS staff so they feel comfortable and confident in using it and so that they can see how it will improve and simplify their IT interactions rather than serving up a new layer of complications, duplicated effort and time wasted. They need to see how it will improve the care of individual patients and of the local population.'

The NHS Alliance boss urged the Government to learn from ‘past mistakes by building understanding from the word go, so people recognise the opportunities offered by this programme'.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘The game-changing Single Patient Record will give clinicians secure access to the information they need to deliver faster, safer joined-up care for thousands more patients in England.  

‘Patients rightly expect their data to be protected, and it will be. The single patient record will have strict safeguards, the highest standards of cyber security and clear controls on who can access information, delivering major benefits for patient safety, faster treatment and better care.'