Thirty Years Inside the Machine - The Same System or the Same Data?

Eight years on — why the future of GP IT may depend less on applications, and more on architecture

The outside claims this piece leans on, and where they come from. Each note says what the source looked at, so you can judge how far it stretches.

In 2018 the GP IT conversation revolved around EMIS versus SystmOne
NHS England press release, 26 June 2025: practices 'have largely had a choice of just two suppliers' for about 25 years.
NHS England (2025) on the two-supplier GP clinical systems market in England.
Interoperability now includes GP Connect, Shared Care Records, ICS aggregation platforms and FHIR APIs
NHS England Digital API catalogue, GP Connect Access Record: Structured (FHIR API): in production for medications and allergies; other record areas in production beta; not yet supported by all provider systems. (2021–2026)
NHS England Digital API catalogue entry for GP Connect (FHIR); 2021 NHS England ICS design framework on system-level digital platforms.
Medicus offers cloud-native, browser-based, API-first delivery, closer to a platform model
NHS England press release, 26 June 2025: Medicus is 'cloud-based technology', first new supplier fully assured through the Tech Innovation Framework; first new core GP IT system for 25 years.
NHS England (June 2025) announcement approving Medicus as a cloud-based GP clinical system under the Tech Innovation Framework.