"Breakdown of digital communication system"

In February 2025 the Patient was diagnosed by the leading NHS heart and lung specialist Hospital with a severely dilated left atrium and severe mitrial regurtitation (leaking heart valve) during the pre-operative assessment for a Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery Wedge resection of a nodule on the right middle lung.

Whilst awaiting a date for the lung surgery an unusually high blood pressure reading taken in the Practice Reception area was reported to the attending Care Navigator. The Patient was advised that they would receive a telephone call on the matter. However, there was no such telephone call, but the Patient did receive a pro-forma text message stating:

Thank you for updating us with your previous Blood Pressure reading. To ensure continuity of your care we would like to monitor your blood pressure readings for the next 7 days and would request you to submit your readings by replying to our text messages when received. If you don't have access to a blood pressure monitor at home, please come to the surgery, and use the one in reception.

To Respond, please follow this link: (link will autogenerate here)

Thanks Bedford street surgery

Bedford Street Surgery

The link did not autogenerate any further communication to the Patient and there was no follow-up.

This was reported to the Practice using their Online 'Contact the Practice Form', the content being received by the Practice, as recorded in the digital entry of the Patient's GP Record.

The Patient has yet to be contacted by the Practice regarding monitoring of blood pressure results or heart condition.

There appears to be a breakdown in the digital communication software system being used by the GP Practice regarding following up with patient blood pressure monitoring.

There also appears to be a lack of sharing patient test results between the NHS Hospital and the patient's GP Practice so as to alert the Practice of the patient's condition and need to monitor the situation.

This situation has serious potential consequencies for patient health and wellbeing and needs to be addressed by the software company supporting GP Practices.

Hoptitals across the NHS should be sending their test results to the patient's GP Practice as a matter of routine to ensure continuity of care.