Implementing Patient Access APIs with FHIR

Let’s talk about something that’s quietly shaping the future of healthcare in the UK: Patient Access APIs powered by FHIR.

Now, if you’re already in healthcare IT or digital health, you’ve probably heard of FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). It’s that standard everyone is talking about when it comes to making health data more shareable, more usable, and honestly, just less painful to work with. But when you connect FHIR with Patient Access APIs, that’s when things get really interesting. Suddenly, patients in the UK can have direct, secure, and structured access to their health records. That means their GP notes, medication history, allergies, lab results, hospital discharge summaries—you name it—could all be available in a patient-friendly way.

Sounds simple, right? But like most things in the NHS digital transformation journey, it’s a bit more complicated than it looks. Let’s unpack what it really means to implement Patient Access APIs with FHIR in the UK healthcare system, why it matters, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

Why Patient Access APIs Matter in the UK

Think about how banking works today. You probably open your app, see your balance instantly, transfer money between accounts, and maybe even pay a bill without leaving your sofa. Now compare that to your last healthcare experience in the NHS. Did you have to call your GP practice for your test results? Wait days for a letter in the post? Maybe even carry paper printouts of your medical history to a hospital appointment?

That’s the problem. Healthcare data has traditionally been locked in silos. A patient’s GP system might hold part of the story, the hospital another, and the pharmacy yet another. For patients, this creates frustration. For clinicians, it means treating people without the full picture.

This is where Patient Access APIs with FHIR come in. By implementing these APIs, the NHS can give patients the kind of seamless digital access to their health data that we already take for granted in banking, retail, and travel. It’s about empowering patients, reducing admin burden, and improving clinical decision-making.

A Quick Refresher: What is FHIR?

If you’re new to this, FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standard created by HL7 International. The idea is to make healthcare data interoperable—basically, to get different systems to “talk” to each other in a common language.

FHIR does this by using modern web standards like RESTful APIs, JSON, and XML—the same building blocks behind apps and services you use every day. Instead of reinventing the wheel, it takes the best practices from the web and applies them to healthcare.

For example:

• A patient’s record can be represented as a FHIR Patient resource.
• Their medications can be structured in a FHIR MedicationStatement resource.
• Lab results? That’s a FHIR Observation resource.

So, when we talk about Patient Access APIs with FHIR, we’re talking about building an API layer on top of existing healthcare systems that speaks this universal FHIR “language.” This is what enables apps, patient portals, and even wearable devices to interact with health records in a safe, structured, and standardised way.

The UK Context: NHS and FHIR

In the UK, the NHS has been pushing hard for interoperability. Programmes like NHS Digital’s GP Connect, NHS App integration, and the wider NHS England Interoperability Strategy all point towards one thing: giving patients and clinicians access to the right information, at the right time, in the right format.

FHIR is right at the centre of this. The NHS has endorsed FHIR UK Core as the national standard for health data exchange. That means whether you’re a GP system supplier, a hospital EHR vendor, or a digital health startup building patient-facing apps, FHIR is the common language you’ll be expected to use.

One real-world example? The NHS App. It already gives patients access to their GP records, prescriptions, and vaccination history. Behind the scenes, much of this relies on FHIR APIs. The idea is that other patient apps—maybe a diabetes management app, a mental health tracker, or even a wearable device—can plug into the same API ecosystem, provided they meet the security and governance requirements.

So, What Exactly are Patient Access APIs?

Let’s break it down simply.

A Patient Access API is just an API (Application Programming Interface) designed to allow patients to access their own health information. When built with FHIR, it means that:

• The data is structured in a standard format.
• It’s accessible via modern, web-friendly methods.
• Patients can use apps or portals of their choice to view and manage their data.

Think of it like this: a Patient Access API is the doorway. FHIR is the common language spoken through that doorway. And the patient is the one holding the key.

In the NHS, this means patients could use their NHS Login to securely authenticate, then access their GP or hospital records through any approved app that connects via the FHIR-based API. The data could include:

• Demographics (name, NHS number, address).
• Medications and repeat prescriptions.
• Allergies and adverse reactions.
• Immunisations.
• Test results and observations.
• Hospital discharge summaries.

The benefits? No more repeating your medical history to every new clinician. No more carrying paper notes. And for the NHS, fewer phone calls, less admin, and more informed patients.

Implementing Patient Access APIs in Practice

Now here’s where things get real. Implementing Patient Access APIs with FHIR in the UK isn’t just about flipping a switch. There are technical, regulatory, and cultural factors to consider. Let’s walk through them.

1. Data Standards and UK Core FHIR

Every API has to be consistent. That’s why UK Core FHIR exists. It’s a set of profiles that adapt international FHIR standards to the specific needs of the NHS. If your system doesn’t comply with UK Core, your data might not align properly with others.

2. Security and Information Governance

This is the NHS—we can’t talk about data without talking about security. APIs need to use OAuth2.0, SMART on FHIR, and NHS Login to ensure only authorised patients can access their own records. Plus, every app connecting to NHS APIs must go through NHS Digital’s assurance process.

3. Supplier Readiness

GP system suppliers like EMIS, TPP, and Vision are already exposing APIs for patient access. But secondary care systems (hospital EHRs) are still catching up. To make this work across the board, all healthcare providers need to be API-ready.

4. Patient Adoption

Even if the tech is ready, patients need to actually use it. That means APIs have to feed into intuitive apps, not clunky portals. The NHS App has been a good starting point, but the ecosystem of third-party apps will be key to adoption.

5. Clinical Engagement

Clinicians need to trust that exposing this data won’t overwhelm patients or create more work. There needs to be clear guidance on what data should be exposed, how often it should be refreshed, and how clinicians can support patients who access their records.

Benefits for the UK Healthcare System

If implemented well, Patient Access APIs with FHIR could transform UK healthcare. Some of the biggest benefits include:

• Patient empowerment: Patients who understand their health data are more engaged and make better decisions.
• Reduced admin burden: Fewer phone calls, fewer printouts, and less chasing results.
• Better care coordination: Clinicians across different settings can see the same, standardised data.
• Innovation in digital health: Startups can build apps that plug directly into the NHS API ecosystem, creating new patient experiences.
• Cost savings: Over time, reducing duplication and inefficiencies could save the NHS millions.

The Challenges Ahead

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Some of the challenges in the UK include:

• Data quality issues: If data in the source system is incomplete or inconsistent, the API will just expose those problems.
• Fragmented systems: Different NHS Trusts and GP practices are at different stages of digital maturity.
• Digital divide: Not every patient is digitally literate or has access to smartphones.
• Change management: Clinicians may worry about patients misinterpreting their records without context.

These are real hurdles, but none are insurmountable. The direction of travel is clear: FHIR-based APIs are the future of patient access.

Looking Ahead

In many ways, the UK is at the tipping point. The NHS App has shown the appetite for digital health access—millions of patients now use it for prescriptions, GP record access, and COVID vaccination history. The next step is expanding this ecosystem so that any trusted health app can connect securely to patient records through FHIR APIs.

Imagine a world where your diabetes management app automatically updates your GP with your latest glucose readings. Or where your wearable heart monitor alerts your clinician in real time through a secure NHS-approved channel. Or where hospital discharge summaries instantly appear in your patient app, without you ever chasing them.

That’s the vision behind implementing Patient Access APIs with FHIR in UK healthcare. It’s not just about technology. It’s about putting patients at the centre of their health journey, cutting through silos, and making the NHS more efficient and effective.

Final Thoughts

So, if someone asks you what Patient Access APIs with FHIR are all about in the UK, here’s the simple answer: they’re the bridge between the NHS’s data and the patient’s right to access it. They use FHIR standards to make that bridge secure, standardised, and future-proof.

For patients, it means empowerment. For clinicians, it means better information at the point of care. And for the NHS as a whole, it means stepping into a digital-first future.

We’re not fully there yet—but the foundation has been laid. And over the next few years, FHIR-powered Patient Access APIs will move from being a nice-to-have to being the default way patients in the UK interact with their healthcare data.