NHS England has approved the first of a new generation of electronic patient record systems for GPs, with more suppliers expected to be made available later this year, as part of reforms to increase competition and innovation in the market.

The cloud-based technology will support the integration of primary care with other settings, including care homes and vaccination centres, and can be used on different devices such as tablets – supporting the delivery of neighbourhood care and helping doctors to best meet their patients' needs.

NHS leaders described the move as the ‘first shake-up of the GP IT market in a quarter of a century', with increased competition in the sector helping the NHS to boost productivity and reduce admin time for staff.

In recent years, GP practices in England have largely had a choice of just two suppliers for the IT system they use to manage patient care. Nut a new core clinical IT system, created by Medicus Health, is now available to practices across the country – with the system already live in four early-adopting sites, serving over 42,000 patients in total.

Medicus Health is the first new supplier to be fully assured through NHS England's Tech Innovation Framework, which ensures new products are fully compliant on information governance, clinical safety and data protection, while integrating with NHS infrastructure such as the Electronic Prescription Service, NHS e-Referral Service and NHS App.

In addition, Medicus Health integrates with 24 national NHS services and is the first to implement five new national open standards for information exchange, including for electronic prescriptions and referrals.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director of primary care and community services, said: ‘This new generation of systems is the first shake-up of the GP IT market we have seen in a quarter of a century, and this shift will help unlock more modern, joined-up care for patients, and help our staff to work better and smarter.

‘It also shows our ongoing commitment to ensuring that the NHS has access to the highest quality digital tools to transform the experience of patients and staff.'

One of the first practices to adopt the new system was Wilmslow Health Centre in Cheshire, which has more than 16,000 patients.

Dr Amar Ahmed, GP partner at Wilmslow Health Centre, said: ‘I can access patient records instantly, making consultations smoother, and as we get more familiar with the system, we expect to see even greater benefits – more informed decisions, quick access to the right information, and a better overall experience for our patients and staff.

‘Appointments are managed more smoothly, and our team communication has never been better. It's the kind of efficiency that translates directly into patient care.'

It is expected more core GP IT systems that meet the standards of the Tech Innovation Framework will become available by April 2026, offering a wider choice for practices.