Case study on how North Shropshire Homecare has found GP Connect integration
CareLineLive has recently introduced integration with GP Connect to its software. This allows home care providers to view an individual’s GP record which enables clinical and non-clinical professionals alike to view information relating to the direct care of a service user.
One of the first providers to sign up was North Shropshire Homecare. We interviewed Deputy Manager, Alice Allen on how she had found it.
The challenges of traditional processes
Before integrating GP Connect, managing service users’ medical information was a complex and time-consuming process. Alice recalls her staff spending over three hours per day on the phone chasing GPs, nurses and family members to confirm medication details and other critical updates.
“It was frustrating and inefficient,” Alice explained. “In addition to chasing GPs, clients often couldn’t remember their medications or medical history, and the back-and-forth conversations sometimes led to miscommunication and potential mistakes.”
These inefficiencies not only delayed care but also made it harder to reassure families that their loved ones were receiving accurate and timely support.
Implementing GP Connect
Integrating GP Connect into their management software was simpler than Alice anticipated.
Preparation: with their Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) ready, they signed the necessary agreements and completed the setup within 24 hours with CareLineLive by their side
Consent: GP Connect was seamlessly incorporated into their consent form process, with clear explanations for service users and families about its purpose
Alice said that families appreciated the transparency”, saying.
“It’s great that you have this system because we can’t remember everything ourselves.”
Benefits of GP Connect
Since adopting GP Connect, North Shropshire Homecare has seen significant improvements:
- Streamlined processes: access to real-time medical records has replaced hours of phone calls and follow-ups. The team now instantly knows a service user’s medications, allergies and conditions, reducing delays and minimising errors
- Enhanced care delivery:
- Carers arrive informed and ready to provide care without repeatedly asking clients about their history and condition
- Families feel reassured, knowing the team has the latest information and is well-prepared to meet their loved one’s needs
- Unexpected wins: Alice shared a story about a service user recently discharged from a care home. During onboarding, GP Connect flagged that the individual had changed GPs – something the team wouldn’t have known otherwise.
Alice reckons GP Connect has saved them three hours of waiting on phone calls with GP surgeries every day.
“It saved us time and ensured continuity of care”
- Professionalism and trust:
- Families have greater confidence in the care team who now don’t need to ask an unlimited number of medical questions during the first visits but instead can start giving person-centred care
- Carers feel more equipped and less reliant on incomplete or outdated information
More time for what matters
With GP Connect handling much of the heavy lifting, Alice and her team now have more time to focus on what truly matters:
- Supporting their staff through supervision and one-on-one meetings
- Having quality conversations with families to provide reassurance and updates instead of burdening them with questions
- Delivering truly person-centred care that prioritises the needs of each service users.
“Instead of looking unprepared or uncertain, we can now show that we’re leading the care for our service users” Alice explained. “Families and carers alike come out of it with a true peace of mind.”
Conclusion
What started as a way to streamline access to medication records has evolved into a game-changing tool for North Shropshire Homecare.
“We thought GP Connect was just about medications, but it’s so much more. It’s given us more time, more accuracy, and more confidence in our care delivery”
Alice’s advice to other providers?
“Go for it. The setup is easy, and the benefits are invaluable. It’s made a huge difference for us.”
