Abstract

Under the previous UK government (1997-2010), one key health initiative was the combining of a range of healthcare services (eg. GPs, diagnostics, minor surgery, pharmacies) in a shared space called a ‘Polyclinic’. However, to benefit from this arrangement involves sharing confidential patient data across diverse IT systems. The findings indicate that although there cannot be a ‘one solution fits all’ model, it is possible for Polyclinics to effectively share information. However, there are a number of challenges to this. These include ensuring common standards for data exchange, interoperability, and technical barriers within existing GP practice systems, political resistance, lack of top down drivers to influence change in approach locally, funding, patient confidentiality, the need to respond to changes in government and finally stimulating a willingness at local level to change working practices.

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Information Sharing in NHS Polyclinics

Under the previous UK government (1997-2010), one key health initiative was the combining of a range of healthcare services (eg. GPs, diagnostics, minor surgery, pharmacies) in a shared space called a ‘Polyclinic’. However, to benefit from this arrangement involves sharing confidential patient data across diverse IT systems. The findings indicate that although there cannot be a ‘one solution fits all’ model, it is possible for Polyclinics to effectively share information. However, there are a number of challenges to this. These include ensuring common standards for data exchange, interoperability, and technical barriers within existing GP practice systems, political resistance, lack of top down drivers to influence change in approach locally, funding, patient confidentiality, the need to respond to changes in government and finally stimulating a willingness at local level to change working practices.