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.

GP Connect allows authorised care providers to:

GP Connect gives your care team instant, secure access to your residents’ GP records — at the point of care, when they need it. No more chasing surgeries, hospitals, waiting for faxes, discharge summaries, transfer of care information or relying on outdated information.

With GP Connect, your staff can see medications, diagnoses, allergies and immunisations in real time, so they can make safer, faster direct care decisions. It’s quick to switch on, fully NHS-backed, and already making a difference in care homes and home care across the country.

Turn on GP Connect — because the people we care for deserve joined-up care.

GP Connect lets your care team see up-to-date GP records instantly — no waiting, no guesswork. That means safer, faster decisions for your residents. It’s easy to activate and fully supported by the NHS. Turn it on — and bring better care into your service.

GP Connect integrates with NHS Digital services to securely retrieve patient data:

GP Connect uses role-based access control with three permission levels:

Note: Permissions are configured in Configuration → Services → Roles under the GP Connect entity.
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When creating new service users in ACP, ensure the following details are accurate for successful GP Connect linking:

Important: All demographic information must match NHS records exactly for successful linking.

Once successfully linked, users can view:

GP Connect data is retrieved in real-time from GP systems, ensuring you always have the most current information available.

Users with Edit permissions can unlink service users from GP Connect:

The system provides clear error messages for common issues:

Only users with appropriate GP Connect permissions can access this feature. The specific level of access depends on their assigned role (View, Edit, or and NHS compliance requirements.

Linked service users will display:

There are no specific system limits on linking service users to GP Connect. The limitation is based on your organization's needs and NHS compliance requirements.

This typically occurs because:

If you see a comparison table showing mismatched First Name or GP Practice Identifier:

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.

No. GP Connect uses strict role-based access control with three permission levels:

Your Tenant Administrator controls exactly which staff roles receive which permission level through Configuration > Services > Roles.

No, GP Connect provides read-only access to GP data. This ensures data integrity and maintains NHS compliance standards.

GP Connect data access is typically restricted to viewing within the ACP system for security and compliance reasons.

Available data varies by GP system but typically includes:

GP Connect retrieves data in real-time directly from GP systems, so you're viewing the most up-to-date information available from the patient's registered GP practice.

If you believe GP data is inaccurate:

Yes, GP Connect provides immediate access to critical patient information including allergies, current medications, and recent medical history, making it valuable for emergency care situations.

No. GP Connect data is never stored locally in ACP. All information is retrieved in real-time from NHS systems when accessed and is read-only. This ensures you always see the most current information while maintaining data security.

Multiple layers of governance protect patient data:

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:

When a patient has opted out, the system displays "Customer not found" and access is blocked. There is no override mechanism.

Technical and procedural safeguards include:

If NHS GP Connect services are temporarily unavailable:

No, GP Connect is an NHS England initiative and only operates in England. Each UK nation has its own health service and digital infrastructure:

Wales: Uses Welsh Clinical Portal and Individual Health Record (IHR) systems. The equivalent service for clinical advice in Wales is Consultant Connect, which provides Welsh healthcare professionals with access to specialist advice through an app and phone system. For digital record sharing, Wales uses different systems including My Health Online Wales.

Scotland: Has separate digital health platforms including the Emergency Care Summary (ECS) and Key Information Summary (KIS). Scotland uses its own infrastructure for sharing patient information between care settings, managed by NHS Scotland.

Northern Ireland: Uses the Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR) for sharing patient information across health and social care providers. This system is managed by the Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI).

GP Connect's technical infrastructure, including ODS codes, spine connectivity, and NHS Digital services, are specific to NHS England. If your organisation operates across multiple UK nations, you would need different integration approaches for each nation's health system.

Individuals can manage this by interacting with the National Data Opt-Out service.

The National Data Opt-Out (NDOO) service enables people to view or change their National Data Opt-Out choice at any time and to decide whether their confidential patient information can be used for research and planning.