Because Connecting for Health is delivering such a large, complex programme it will stretch over a 10-year period. The full range of systems and service changes will be implemented incrementally over time. These developments will see the NHS working as a truly joined up healthcare service where primary, secondary and social care are centred on the patient’s needs.

Over the course of the programme the tools to achieve consistent, safer treatment will allow care processes to be enhanced and ultimately provide better patient care. Improvements include; an increased opportunity for professionals to collaborate over patient care, a single repository of patient records to replace a number of existing systems, which had previously been limited by organisational boundaries, and better training and confidence and morale for frontline staff.