Green light has been given to a new digital platform from Medicus, giving the firm licence to enter a market that has, for decades, been dominated by EMIS and TPP
A new core clinical IT system for GPs has been approved for introduction by NHS England, ending what health bosses have described as an effective 25-year duopoly for two major suppliers.
Medicus Health’s cloud-based system “Medicus” has already been deployed in four early-adopting areas, but NHS England’s approval opens the door for practices across the country to use it.
NHS England said the technology would support the integration of primary care with other settings, including care homes and vaccination centres. The system can also be used on different devices such as tablets.
Medicus Health is the first new supplier to be fully assured through NHS England’s Tech Innovation Framework, however further systems are expected to be added over the coming nine months.
The health body, which is soon to be merged back into the Department of Health and Social Care, said the framework ensured new products are fully compliant on information governance, clinical safety and data protection – and capable of integrating with infrastructure such as the Electronic Prescription Service, NHS e-Referral Service and NHS App.
Medicus is described as integrating 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.
PublicTechnology reported in 2022 that seven other suppliers in addition to Medicus Health had been awarded a TIF place: EMIS Health; Eva Health Technologies; The Flame Lily Healthcare; MedicalDirector; JWPM; Ouris Health; and OX.DH.
In recent decades, the market for patient IT has been dominated by EMIS and TPP. Until 2019, GPs’ choice of core clinical records platforms was effectively limited to those two providers and minority players Microtest and INPS.
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The IT Futures framework, introduced six years ago, added a further three suppliers of core records systems.
Nevertheless, NHS England said this week that in recent years, GP practices in England had “largely had a choice of just two suppliers” for the IT system they use to manage patient care and that Medicus was the first new core IT system for GPs for 25 years.
Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director of primary care and community services, said the electronic patient-record systems being introduced under the Tech Innovation Framework represented a milestone for GP choice.
“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,” she said. “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.”
Wilmslow Health Centre in Cheshire is one of the four practices that trialled Medicus.
Practice partner Dr Amar Ahmed said the system allowed him to access patient records instantly, which made consultations smoother.
“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,” he said. “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.”
NHS England said more than 25 integrated care boards are currently exploring how they can support the adoption of new systems.
