Some community pharmacies will now be able to access patient's GP records when providing NHS services, it has been announced.

Cegedim Rx has become the first community pharmacy IT supplier to roll out access to the GP Connect Access Record functionality which enables registered community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to access patient records as needed for patient care.

Registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians providing NHS clinical services in community pharmacy will be able to see information in the patient record linked to three areas - medications, investigations (such as blood test results) and observations (including blood pressure, weight, height, BMI, smoking status).

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The access is currently available to those using Cegedim Rx's Pharmacy Services system in England.

And according to Community Pharmacy England, three other suppliers (EMIS Pinnacle PharmOutcomes, Positive Solutions HxConsult and Sonar Informatics) are currently in a testing phase with the functionality.

It follows the roll out of Update Record which allows registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to add updates from Pharmacy First, blood pressure and contraception consultations to patient records.

Leanne Hackett, product director for Cegedim Rx, said the company was 'delighted' to be 'the first community pharmacy IT supplier to switch on functionality for a national initiative which aims to better connect registered community pharmacy professionals with their patients’ medical and health information'.

'GP Connect Access Record will make a patient’s relevant medical information available to pharmacy. Providing vital insights – available at the point of delivering an NHS clinical service – which will without question help to improve patient care and outcomes,' she said.

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What difference will it make for pharmacies to have access to GP records?

Ms Hackett added: 'With the launch of GP Connect Access Record it feels like we’re moving in a very positive direction. Joined-up technology and seamless information sharing is critical to enable effective collaboration between pharmacy and primary care.

'It really can’t be overstated just how important it is for community pharmacy to have access to relevant patient medical information. It’s a significant step forward, not just in delivering improved interoperability but also, in highlighting the vital role community pharmacy plays in the delivery of NHS healthcare.'

In October, NHS England confirmed that Access Record was being piloted by some pharmacies.

Update Record was introduced alongside the launch of Pharmacy First last year, but was switched off by an estimated two-thirds of GP practices as part of collective action organised by the British Medical Association (BMA).

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But the new GP contract requires GP practices in England to enable Update Record and Access Record functionality in their practices from 1 October 2025.

Learn more about community pharmacy IT systems:

Read our interview with Community Pharmacy England's IT policy manager Daniel Ah-Thion.