Please note: GP Connect functionality requires activation through NHS England. Please follow these setup instructions to begin the process of enabling GP Connect for your organisation.
GP Connect is a secure NHS integration feature that enables care providers in Access Care Planning (ACP) to access real-time patient GP records directly within the ACP system. This integration improves care quality by providing instant access to critical patient information including medications, allergies, clinical history, and other essential GP data.
Activation required: Before you can use GP Connect, your organisation must complete NHS requirements and register with Access. See Activate GP Connect for your organisation for step-by-step instructions.
What is GP Connect?
GP Connect allows authorised care providers to:
Access real-time GP patient records without leaving Care Planning.
View structured NHS data including medications, allergies, encounters, and clinical history.
Link service users to their GP records securely through NHS validation.
Maintain role-based access to ensure appropriate data visibility.
Access up-to-date patient information for better care planning and decision-making.
How it works
Integration architecture
GP Connect integrates with NHS Digital services to securely retrieve patient data:
Personal Demographics Service (PDS) Validation: Validates patient identity using GP Practice Identifier and demographic data.
GP Connect API: Retrieves structured patient data from GP systems.
Role-based access control: Ensures users only see data appropriate to their role.
Secure Authentication: All access is logged and audited for NHS compliance.
Prerequisites
Active Access Care Planning account.
GP Connect feature enabled by the System Administrator.
GP Connect must be enabled for the service. GP Connect is automatically disabled on services where the service name contains the words "employee" or "staff".
Appropriate role permissions for GP Connect access — all users, including Tenant Administrators, must be explicitly granted GP Connect access through their role settings.
Valid NHS patient data in ACP for successful linking.
Set up GP Connect
Tenant configuration
Your System Administrator will need to:
Ensure compliance with NHS Digital requirements.
Enable the GP Connect feature.
Your Tenant Administrator will need to configure role-based permissions for users.
User permissions
GP Connect uses role-based access control with three permission levels:
View: Full access to GP Connect records including Summary, Encounters, Clinical Items, Problems and Issues, Allergies and Adverse Reactions, Medications, Referrals, Observations, Immunisations, and Administrative Items.
Edit: Access to set up GP Connect and unlink GP Connect from service user records, including View permissions.
Restricted View: Limited access to Summary pages only (View checkbox must also be checked).
Important — updated as of Server v8.2.8.1: GP Connect access is no longer available by default to any user, including Tenant Administrators. All users must be explicitly added to a role that has GP Connect permissions enabled. This change was made to ensure access to NHS patient data is always intentional and auditable.
To grant GP Connect access to a user:
Go to Configuration → Services → Roles.
Select the relevant role.
Enable the appropriate GP Connect permissions (View, Edit, or Restricted View).
Assign the user to that role.
Note: GP Connect is also automatically disabled for any service where the service name contains the words "employee" or "staff". If your organisation uses different names for employee-type services (e.g. "Personnel" or "HR") and needs GP Connect disabled for those too, please contact our support team.
Link service users to GP Connect
Step-by-step process
Open the service user record in ACP.
Click on the GP Connect tab.
Click Set up GP Connect.
The system will validate against PDS using Last Name, Gender, and Date of Birth.
Validation results
Successful match
If all core details match PDS records, the patient data from PDS is displayed on screen.
Review the patient information to confirm it matches the correct service user.
Check the checkbox The above information is correct, and I confirm this record belongs to the patient.
Click Continue to complete the linking process.
NHS number mismatch
If the NHS number doesn't match PDS records, an error message appears: "The NHS number you are using (XXXXXXXXXX) is incorrect. The correct NHS number is XXXXXXXXXX, please update it from the Customer Record page." Update the NHS number and retry.
Partial match
If First Name or GP Practice Identifier don't match, a comparison table appears. Review ACP data against PDS values and correct any discrepancies before proceeding.
No match
Error message: "Customer not found. Please check details and check they have not opted out." Verify Last Name, Gender, and Date of Birth are correct and retry.
Access GP Connect data
Once successfully linked, users can view:
Summary: Overview of patient's key medical information.
Encounters: Recent GP visits and consultations.
Clinical Items: Test results, observations, and clinical notes.
Problems and Issues: Current and historical medical problems.
Allergies and Adverse Reactions: Known allergies and adverse reactions.
Medications: Current and past prescriptions.
Referrals: Specialist referrals and transfers.
Observations: Vital signs and clinical measurements.
Immunisations: Vaccination records and history.
Administrative items: Non-clinical practice management information.
GP Connect data is retrieved in real-time from GP systems, ensuring you always have the most current information available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access GP Connect data?
As of Server v8.2.8.1, all users — including Tenant Administrators — must be explicitly granted GP Connect access through their role settings. GP Connect is no longer visible by default to any user type. This ensures access to NHS patient medical records is always deliberate, controlled, and auditable by your organisation.
The level of access depends on the role permissions assigned:
View: Full access to all GP Connect data tabs.
Restricted View: Summary tab only.
Edit: Ability to link/unlink service users (includes View permissions).
How do I know if a service user is linked to GP Connect?
Linked service users will display the GP Connect tab with accessible data and real-time GP information in the relevant tabs.
Is there a limit to how many service users can be linked?
There are no specific system limits. The limitation is based on your organisation's needs and NHS compliance requirements.
Why can't I link a service user to GP Connect?
This typically occurs because:
The service user's Last Name, Gender, or Date of Birth in ACP doesn't exactly match NHS PDS records.
The NHS Number is incorrect or missing.
The service user is not registered with an NHS GP.
GP Connect is disabled for the service (e.g. the service is named "employee" or "staff").
You do not have the required role permissions to access GP Connect.
Why do I only see the Summary tab?
If you only see the Summary tab, you have Restricted View permissions. Contact your administrator if you need access to additional GP Connect data tabs.
Can I edit GP Connect data?
No. GP Connect provides read-only access to GP data to ensure data integrity and NHS compliance.
What governance measures ensure only authorised staff access GP Connect?
All organisations must sign the NHS National Data Sharing Agreement (NDSA).
GP Connect must be enabled at tenant level by a System Administrator.
GP Connect is disabled on services named "employee" or "staff" to prevent access to employee health data.
All users, including Tenant Administrators, must be explicitly granted access through role settings.
NHS validation requires exact patient demographic matching.
Full audit trail of all access (who, when, what, which patient).
How is patient consent handled for GP Connect access?
GP Connect operates under legitimate interest for direct care provision under UK GDPR. Patients don't need to give explicit consent but can opt out through the NHS National Data Opt-out service or Type 1 opt-outs registered with their GP practice. When a patient has opted out, the system displays "Customer not found" and access is blocked.
What happens if the GP Connect service is unavailable?
You'll see a system status message indicating the service is down. Previously linked users will show unavailable status. Normal functionality resumes when NHS services are restored.
Is GP Connect supported in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland?
No. GP Connect is an NHS England initiative and only operates in England. Each UK nation has its own health service and digital infrastructure.
A client wishes to ensure their health record data is not visible in GP Connect. How do I handle this?
Individuals can manage this through the National Data Opt-Out service.
Why did I get a 'multiple matches found' error?
PDS couldn't identify a unique record from the details held. Try entering the NHS number directly on the customer record before setting up GP Connect - this bypasses the demographic search entirely and is the most reliable approach.