Please note: This feature is available to all Birdie packages. GP Connect can only be used if the patient is registered with a GP in England.
Birdie has now integrated GP Connect into our platform, enabling authorised Care team members to access and share GP records and medical notes in real time.
This enhancement allows you to view all essential health information for the Clients you care for in one convenient place. With quick access to up-to-date medical data, you can deliver more informed, personalised care, ensuring the highest standard of support for your Clients at all times.
Eligibility Criteria for GP Connect
GP Connect will be available to all packages for providers who meet the following criteria:
You must be CQC registered
Your organisation (and each site) must be registered with the Organisation Data Service*
You must be and remain fully registered with the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and have achieved a current latest status rating of “standards met”, and commit to maintaining annual compliance
You will need to review and sign the National Data Sharing Agreement for GP Connect
Read and ensure you can comply with the NHS End User Organisation Acceptable Use Policy
You will need to provide the name and email address of the Registered Manager, who will be contacted to provide a list of any clinical/nominated non-clinical staff that require access to GP Connect
If you meet the above criteria, you will need to fill out the onboarding survey in order to register your interest in enabling GP Connect for your agency.
If you do not meet the above, you will not be able to access the GP Connect integration.
*You can look up your ODS code here, which typically begins with a V for each social care site. Please ensure that 'Primary Role Type' is 'Social Care Site' when searching.
How to access GP Connect on Birdie
To access the GP Connect integration, start by going to the Clients tab. Then click the Go to GP connect button on the right-hand side.
A new page will open where you will need to enter the following mandatory details such as:
The Clients name
The Clients family name (last name)
Client's Date of birth
NHS number
You will not be able to access a patient record if any of the following apply:
The data provided does not correspond to a single patient record
The patient has not given consent to their GP for their record to be shared
The patient is listed as deceased
What information can I view on GP Connect?
Once you have gained access to the GP Connect page for a Client you will be able to view the following:
Personal information (name, age, gender)
Summary
Medications
Allergies
Immunisations
You can click the titles to view specific information.
Summary
Here you will see a summary of the Client's medical records which includes Active Problems and Issues and Major Inactive Problems and Issues. This tab contains the information also shown on the other tabs.
2. Medications
On this tab, you will be able to view all of the medications this Client has been prescribed, past and present. You will be able to search for a timeframe to find a specific medication and also view any medication issues.
3. Allergies
On this tab, you will be able to view all Allergies and Adverse Reactions as well as Historical Allergies and Adverse Reactions.
4. Immunisations
On this tab, you will be able to view any immunisations that the Client has had, the date of the vaccine and any details.
Error message when accessing a Client's records
If you enter a Client's details incorrectly you will get a pop-up message warning that the patient you have searched does not exist in the database.
Please ensure the following:
You have spelt both names correctly
You have the correct DOB
You have the correct NHS number
You have cross-referenced the address
How to print & download from GP Connect
There is no print or download button on the GP Connect page to reduce the risk of accidentally or unintentionally printing and sharing Client data.
However, if you do need to print or download information from this page you can do this by following the instructions below.
Option 1 - Screenshot the page
Windows users press: 'Windows + Shift + S'
Mac users press: 'Command + Shift + 4'
Your screen will look greyed out, and your cursor will change. Click, drag, and release to capture the part of your screen you want.
For a more detailed step-by-step guide on how to take a screenshot on your device here.
Now, you can use the screenshot of the page as needed – download, email, or print it.
Option 2 - Print and/or save the page
Window users press: 'CTRL + P'
Mac users press: 'Control + click the page + Print'
This will bring up the print menu where you can select the orientation of the document and send it to the printer or save it as a PDF.
GP Connect FAQ
Where is GP Connect available?
GP Connect is an integration with NHS England, so it is only for agencies with patients with a GP practice based in England. There’s currently no equivalent of GP Connect outside of England.
How long does it take to get access to GP Connect once I start onboarding?
It varies depending on 1) eligibility 2) how long you take to complete the steps 3) how quickly the NHS approves and enables access on their side. It can take an estimated 4-6 weeks.
Why am I seeing an error when I search for some clients in GP Connect?
It takes 1-2 weeks after receiving ASIDs (the codes that enable GP Connect access) for the NHS to whitelist ODS codes with TPP. TPP is one of the two suppliers of GP data for GP Connect. You are unable to access Clients who are registered with a ‘TPP’ GP practice until their ODS code is whitelisted. If you try, you will receive an error message. The solution is to wait 1-2 weeks after ASIDs return from the NHS before setting GP Connect live in your agency.
Can I monitor who in my organisation has accessed GP Connect and which Client records they accessed, to audit usage for compliance?
Yes, we will send you a report on request that shows who accessed GP Connect, when they accessed it, and which Client they searched for.
I know that more data fields are available in GP Connect but I can’t see them via the Birdie integration. Why is that?
Birdie has enabled GP Connect Access Record HTML for the social care use case as it covers the great majority of needs for Birdie users. There is a clinician use case that shows all encounters along with some other data points, but the integration does not cover this at present. To do so would require more NHS assurance and development. We are not prioritising clinical access for the time being, as the social care access covers the majority of Birdie user's use cases but we are considering extending the integration to cover this in the future.