Health Minister James Frith MP visited London Ambulance Service to see how ambulance crews are using digital records to access vital information about a patient’s health, helping them provide the right care when every second counts.
During the visit on Wednesday (19 August), he was shown how ambulance crews can access important information on their iPads, including medical history, medications and care plans, before they even arrive at the scene.
The minister also discussed the Government’s plans for an NHS Single Patient Record and how it could build on the work already taking place across London to give clinicians access to relevant health information across NHS services.
London Ambulnce Service already uses the London Care Record, which securely shares health information with NHS care providers across London. The proposed Single Patient Record would make that information available across NHS services nationally.
James Frith, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:
“When someone calls for an ambulance, every minute matters. During my visit today, I saw first-hand how important access to patient information can be in an emergency. Having details such as a patient’s medical history, medications and urgent care plans can make a real difference when time is precious.
“The Single Patient Record will help ensure frontline clinicians have the information they need when it matters most.
“And that means being able to deliver safer, more informed and more personalised care from the moment they arrive.”
Director of Ambulance Operations Darren Farmer said: “It was a pleasure to host the minister here at our Waterloo HQ and I want to thank our people for demonstrating the difference innovations that give clinicians better access to patient information can make.”
For ambulance crews in London, access to accurate patient information is already transforming clinical decision-making.
Station support manager Matt Morgan said: “Shared digital patient care records are a game changer. We can now access a patient’s full care history on the spot, which means we can give them the best possible treatment and help save lives.”
Matt recently cared for a patient who seemed to have a routine chest infection, but their digital care plan revealed a history of dangerous complications requiring intensive care.
The crew took the patient to hospital for early treatment rather than leaving them at home.
All records are accessed securely, ensuring patient data is protected while enabling safe and appropriate care.
Clinical team manager Jenny Richardson said: “The speed at which we can get this information is so important to patient care.
“Being able to access it while standing next to the patient, to find their treatment plans, medications and pre-existing conditions, saves lives.”
These developments form part of wider innovation across the service, including the My Clinical Feedback app, which allows crews to check patient outcomes after hospital handover for the first time in the UK.
Meanwhile the early adoption of AI scribe tools has enabled paramedics to treat more patients over the phone by generating medical notes during calls and reducing paperwork.
The increasing role of data and digital systems allows crews to focus more fully on their patients.
“This job is a privilege,” said Jenny. “We get to be there on one of the worst days in people’s lives and bring a sense of calm and help—that’s what keeps me coming back.”