IBI-4d Response Accepted AI-assessed

Patient Records Audit

Recommendation

Patient Records:

Before the end of 2027 there should be a formal audit, publicly reported, of the extent of success of digitisation of patient records in each of the four health jurisdictions of the UK, measuring at least the levels of patient access to their personal records, their ability to identify and correct apparent errors in them, their interoperability, and the confidence of health professionals in the detail, accuracy and timeliness of any record they enter, and that little material which should be recorded has been omitted. Next steps should be identified.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the official government response, the UK Government accepted the recommendation for a formal, publicly reported audit of patient record digitisation across the four UK health jurisdictions by the end of 2027. NHS England is supporting the digitisation of data through its Frontline Digitisation programme, aiming for all secondary care trusts to have an electronic patient record system (EPR) (Official government response, 21 July 2025). Ongoing Digital Maturity Assessments already capture most of the content required for the audit, and NHS England is determining how to capture the remaining items, such as patient access and confidence.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Response
Accepted
Accepted UK Government
14 May 2025

NHS England's Frontline Digitisation programme aims for all secondary care trusts to have electronic patient record systems. Plans exist to publicly report findings by summer 2025. Scotland will expand Digital Maturity Assessments by 2025 for reporting by end of 2027.

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Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Good Progress
15 Jan 2026
IBCA Community Update Other

As of 13 January 2026: 3,721 people asked to start claims, 3,546 begun process, 3,074 received offers totalling £2.47bn, 2,861 paid totalling £1.89bn. Third compensation regulations in force 31 December 2025.

View detailed findings

IBCA exceeded initial expectations. Three sets of regulations now in force covering infected persons, affected persons, and supplementary routes. £11.8bn committed in October 2024 Budget. Independent review found "very creditable progress."

IBCA Community Update, 15 January 2026 View Source
Reasonable Progress
28 Oct 2025
IBCA Independent Review Other

IBCA has contacted 2,215 people to begin compensation claims; 1,934 started process. £812m+ paid via Horizon Shortfall Scheme. £11.8bn committed in Autumn Budget.

View detailed findings

IBCA exceeded expectations for first cohort and established operational service with "compassionate ethos." Target: bulk of infected payments by 2027, affected by 2029. Third compensation scheme regulations came into law 31 December 2025.

IBCA CO-Sponsored Independent Review Report, Octo… View Source
Source
Inquiry Infected Blood Inquiry
Report Infected Blood Inquiry Final Report 20 May 2024
View Source
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Themes & Tags
Inaccurate and inaccessible patient records Patient Records Digital Health Audit
Recommendation age 1.8 yrs
Last formal update 14 May 2025