The first phase of the rollout will see citizens of Leeds able to access their records and add some cursory information  Credit: PA

Leeds is piloting a programme of person-held records (PHR) that will allow citizens to access and amend their information.

The city’s council and NHS organisations across Leeds are trialling a system built on an open-source platform developed by Ripple Foundation, a healthcare-focused software house. The first phase of the PHR programme will allow citizens to log into their record, once they have registered and verified their identity.

Users will also be able to add some information about themselves, such as “a top three things to know about me”, the council said. This data will be combined with existing care records.

Related content

• Leeds and York NHS trust to create electronic patient records system with seven-year project worth up to £5m
• IT system leaves GP practices in the dark about who can access records
• Majority of NHS Trusts still rely on paper records – but half are looking to AI, research shows

In the longer term, the council hopes that external developers will create apps that work with the platform, allowing users to incorporate data from a personalised range of sources.

Dylan Roberts, chief digital and information officer for Leeds City Council, said: “The city of Leeds has the skills and ability to create cutting-edge technology for its citizens. The decision to develop a person-held record is another clear example. We will work closely with the people of Leeds, care professionals and national organisations to ensure any technology we build and implement can be reused across the nation.” 

The council added that the city’s digital philosophy of “simplify, standardise, and share” will ensure the platform is scalable and can, if desired, be shared easily with other places in the country.