Member

The NHS operates on a complex ecosystem—I barely need to say that, standing next to the noble Lord, Lord Markham, given his previous occupation—and, in some cases, legacy systems, which are there in spades. Any effort to improve data interoperability must account for these realities. Without retroactive application of these information standards to existing contracts, there is a risk that entrenched barriers to effective data sharing will persist. These barriers would undermine the goals of the legislation, delaying improvements in patient care and operational efficiency. In addition, if the application of these information standards is to extend beyond the interoperability of operational NHS data and provide secure access to electronic health records that support the delivery of direct care, it is vital that we make explicit in this legislation its application to IT providers within the primary care estate. I beg to move.