First reported 16 Oct 2015•Latest report 19 Aug 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of explicitly identified EMIS functions that affect safe clinical information access or use, including consultation-list updating, access to relevant GP data and availability of appropriate prescribing choices.
Not included
Excludes generic electronic-record or prescribing-system deficiencies where EMIS is not explicitly identified.
Excludes failures of clinical decision-making, communication or care delivery that are not caused by an EMIS function.
Excludes non-safety-related administrative or technical problems in EMIS.
Excludes failures in other named information systems unless the report explicitly links them to the same EMIS concern.
Reports
7
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
10
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
23
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited3
NHS England3
Ashfield Surgery1
Derbyshire County Council1
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
EMIS Group1
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency1
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board1
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust1
South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust1
Executive non-departmental public body3
NHS trust3
Private limited company3
Company1
English county council1
Healthcare site1
Integrated care board1
Medicines and medical devices regulator1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Failure of the surgery EMIS system to display MHRA nitrofurantoin safety alerts
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing EMIS Web functionality is considered sufficient to mitigate the specific MHRA Nitrofurantoin risk; no further software development is required.
Stated by OptumExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of an appropriate morphine strength as a prescribing choice on EMIS
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Surrey
Concerns raised2
Failure of EMIS prescription records to clearly display the chronology of issued prescriptions
Difficulty interrogating EMIS prescribing records to establish what was prescribed, issued and when
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Provide medication views that display prescriptions chronologically by last issue date and allow clinicians to configure grouping.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 July 2023.
Action
Provide Drug History functionality showing medication commencement, modification, ending, and issue-request events.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 July 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing EMIS Web functionality is sufficient to mitigate the identified medication-management risks, so no software developments are required.
Stated by EMIS GroupExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Failure of the result-filing function to prevent multiple-click filing of subsequent results without clinician review
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Test a workable EMIS solution and continue collaborating with EMIS on system fixes, user communication and escalation of identified risks.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 January 2022.
Action
Return the Cockermouth Hospital community ward to the ICE Order Comms system after assessing the affected functionality.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 January 2022.
Action
Increase Neurology team vigilance when reviewing results and stop using “file no comment” in favour of “File and Comment” to require clinician review.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 January 2022.
Action
Implement a separate Rad Alert system that emails referrers about significant radiology findings and escalates unacknowledged alerts to alternative clinicians.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 January 2022.
Action
Notify Primary Care colleagues using EMIS about the risk and required precautions through the CCG Chief Clinical Information Officer.
Stated by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 January 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Existing EMIS Web failsafes, combined with appropriate user diligence, are considered sufficient to prevent inadvertent filing of multiple results.
Stated by EMIS GroupExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Clinicians are responsible for reviewing, filing and archiving results at a speed and diligence appropriate to their clinical nature and patient context.
Stated by EMIS GroupRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised3
Failure of the EMIS consultation-list mitigation to reliably ensure practitioner logout and re-login
Failure of EMIS consultation lists to update reliably
Failure to ensure that all EMIS-using GP surgeries are alerted to the consultation-list error
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.14
Action
Update the induction pack with EMIS appointment-screen guidance and disseminate it to new staff, nursing staff, locums and relevant Primary Care Networks.
Stated by Ashfield SurgeryStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Use manual log-off and log-on refreshing as a workaround to identify newly added appointments and prevent missed appointments.
Stated by Ashfield SurgeryStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Update and disseminate appointment-refresh self-help guidance through the customer portal and EMIS Web information feed.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Issue Safety Advisory Notice SAN 2021-005 to GP Practices and Clinical Services about the appointment-refresh risk and required actions.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Develop an automated appointment-book refresh solution for current-day appointments and inactive user sessions.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Roll out the completed appointment-refresh functionality to all users through controlled implementation and effectiveness and performance checks.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Issue a Safety Advisory Notice to GP practices and clinical services setting out required actions and further information.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Send all GP practices information about appointment-refresh risks, resolution steps and IT support contacts.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Check that the relevant computer ports are open to address the EMIS appointment-screen refresh problem.
Stated by Ashfield SurgeryStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Chase the IT desk and further escalate the EMIS appointment-screen refresh problem.
Stated by Ashfield SurgeryStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Review the underlying appointment-refresh technology.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Continue investigating reported appointment-refresh failures and resolve them as far as possible.
Stated by EMIS GroupStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Issue guidance to GP practices on preventing and resolving appointment-refresh problems.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Action
Continue monitoring appointment-refresh problems and work with EMIS and GP practices to identify and address further issues.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Manual Appointment Refresh is currently sufficient; users do not need to log out and back into EMIS while automatic refresh is developed.
Stated by EMIS GroupExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
EMIS is expected to provide the system solution for appointment screens not refreshing; the practice has not received one.
Stated by Ashfield SurgeryRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
EMIS actions addressing the appointment-list issue mean no further action is considered necessary from NHSE/I at this time.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Lack of mental health team access to appropriate GP data via EMIS
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Derby and Derbyshire
Concerns raised1
Lack of GP awareness and use of EMIS Special Patient Note and Right Care Plan facilities for mental health risk information
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Review the PARIS discharge-letter format after the audit and determine necessary changes.
Stated by Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 16 January 2015.
Action
Remind practices to use Special Patient Notes and Right Care Plans for patients with mental health conditions.
Stated by NHS England Medical Directorate Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Area Team (NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 16 January 2015.
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Includes failures of explicitly identified EMIS functions that affect safe clinical information access or use, including consultation-list updating, access to relevant GP data and availability of appropriate prescribing choices.
