The NHS is undergoing one of its most significant digital transformations in decades. On 14 May 2026, the government announced the NHS Modernisation Bill, which will introduce a single patient record (SPR) across all healthcare providers in England. For hospital locum doctors, this represents a major shift in how you'll access patient information and deliver care.
What Is the Single Patient Record?
The single patient record will create a unified, secure digital account of each patient's medical history that all NHS staff - whether in hospitals, GP practices, or community services - can access in real time. Currently, patient information is fragmented across different systems. Consultants often wait for letters from GPs, and hospital staff cannot always access a patient's full medical history when they arrive for treatment. The SPR will change this fundamentally.
What This Means for Hospital Locum Doctors
As a locum doctor, you'll benefit from immediate access to comprehensive patient information. When you arrive for a shift, you'll be able to see a patient's complete medical history, current medications, known allergies, and previous test results—all in one place. This eliminates the frustration of working with incomplete information and reduces the risk of duplicated tests or missed diagnoses.
The SPR will be rolled out in phases, with early access in specialties including maternity and frailty care as soon as 2027. This means locum opportunities in these areas may expand as trusts prepare for and implement the new system. Your ability to work efficiently with integrated data will make you a more valuable asset to hospital teams
managing complex patient pathways.
Improved Patient Flow and Efficiency
One of the key benefits of the SPR is faster patient flow through hospital services. With clinicians able to access the full picture immediately, decision-making becomes quicker and more informed. For locum doctors, this translates to smoother shifts, fewer delays, and the satisfaction of delivering more coordinated, safer care. The bill also aims to reduce bureaucratic layers, freeing up more time for frontline clinical work - something that will benefit both permanent and locum staff.
Preparing for the Change
If you're considering hospital locum work or are already active in the sector, familiarising yourself with digital health systems is increasingly important. The NHS is investing heavily in technology, and locum doctors who are comfortable with modern digital workflows will be in high demand. Many trusts are already piloting elements of the SPR, so you may encounter these systems on shifts now.
Support from Your Recruitment Partner
At Holt Doctors, we're committed to keeping you informed about NHS developments that affect your work. As the SPR rolls out, we'll help match you with roles in trusts that are leading implementation, ensuring you gain experience with cutting-edge systems. Whether you're interested in locum jobs in maternity, frailty care, or other specialties, we can help you find positions that align with your career development.
The NHS Modernisation Bill represents an exciting opportunity for hospital locum doctors to work in a more integrated, efficient healthcare system. By understanding these changes now, you can position yourself to thrive in the NHS of the future.
Sources
Department of Health and Social Care & NHS England (15 May 2026):
"Better patient care as NHS set to introduce single patient record"
The Guardian (10 May 2026): "GPs and hospitals in England to be
required to share data to create single patient records"