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GP Connect and adult social care: key takeaways from our webinar with Alison Taylor
GP Connect and adult social care: key takeaways from our webinar with Alison Taylor
Recently, we hosted a webinar with GP Connect expert Alison Taylor, focusing on how GP Connect is improving information sharing between health and social care.
With increasing pressure on adult social care services, timely access to accurate clinical information has never been more important. GP Connect is a national NHS initiative designed to support safer, more joined up care by giving authorised care professionals secure access to key GP information.
GP Connect is delivered by the NHS and follows national information governance standards, ensuring information is shared securely, appropriately, and in line with strict access controls.
In this webinar, Alison shared practical insight into how GP Connect works, what it means for care providers, and what services should be thinking about as digital integration continues to develop across health and social care.
If you could not attend live, the full webinar is available to watch on demand.
What is GP Connect?
GP Connect is an NHS service that allows authorised health and care professionals to access specific information from a person’s GP record securely and in real time.
For adult social care providers, this helps reduce long standing information gaps between GP practices and care services. Instead of relying on phone calls, emails, or delayed updates, relevant information can be viewed directly within connected care systems.
During the webinar, Alison explained that GP Connect is not about replacing GP practices or clinical decision making. It is about sharing the right information at the right time with the right professionals, while meeting national NHS information governance requirements.
Why GP Connect matters for Adult Social Care
A key theme of the session was the growing importance of integrated working across health and social care.
Care teams are often supporting people with complex needs, multiple conditions, and regular medication changes. Without timely access to GP information, this can increase risk and place additional pressure on staff.
Alison highlighted how GP Connect helps adult social care providers by enabling safer access to information that is governed, auditable, and aligned with NHS standards.
Safer decison making
Access to key GP information supports informed decision making, particularly in urgent or out of hours situations.
Better continuity of care
When care providers can view relevant GP details, important changes are less likely to be missed during handovers or transitions of care.
Reduced duplication and delays
GP Connect reduces the need for repeated calls and follow ups with GP practices, saving time for both care staff and clinical teams.
Stronger collaboration with GPs
Secure information sharing supports better working relationships between care providers and GP practices.
What information can care providers access?
During the webinar, Alison outlined the types of information that may be available through GP Connect, depending on role based access and local configuration.
This can include access to information such as:
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Current medications and allergies
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Diagnoses and medical history
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Recent consultations and observations
Availability of information depends on role based access and local GP Connect configuration.
GP Connect is delivered by the NHS and follows national information governance standards.
Having this information available within a care management system helps teams focus on delivering safe, person centred care, rather than chasing information across multiple channels.
How GP Connect supports more joined up care
GP Connect is not just a technical integration. It is a foundation for more joined up working across health and social care.
When care providers and GP practices are working from consistent, up to date information, it reduces risk, improves communication, and supports better outcomes for people receiving care.
Alison emphasised that secure information sharing, underpinned by NHS governance standards, is essential as services move towards more collaborative models of care.
What is coming next for GP Connect?
The session also explored how GP Connect continues to develop alongside wider NHS digital initiatives.
While GP Connect already delivers real value, ongoing improvements are focused on expanding access, strengthening integration, and improving usability, while maintaining high standards of information governance.
For care providers, this highlights the importance of digital readiness. Services with secure, well integrated care systems will be better positioned as health and social care information sharing continues to evolve.
What care providers should be preparing for
Alison shared practical guidance on what providers, managers, and clinical teams should be considering now.
This includes:
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Helping staff understand how shared GP information supports safer care
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Reviewing internal information governance and access processes
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Choosing care management systems that support NHS integrations
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Preparing teams for closer working with health partners
Digital integration is most effective when supported by confident staff, clear processes, and systems built with adult social care in mind.
How Care Control supports GP Connect
At Care Control, we support safer, more connected care through digital care management.
Our software is designed to support GP Connect alongside wider care management tools, helping providers access vital GP information securely within everyday workflows.
You can learn more about how Care Control supports GP Connect here:
👉 Understanding GP Connect with Care Control
If you would like to explore this further, we would love to have a conversation with you.
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