The government must delay plans for unlimited patient access to GP records amid safeguarding concerns, senior GPs have said.

The Government in England has ordered that patients have full access to their records by next month. But now the Royal College of GPs has called for an eight week delay, so it can update its guidance and establish how “clinical oversight” of data release will work. The college said it is “supportive” of expanding patient access to GP records.

In a statement, it added: “Patient access to their records is not without risk and we have a responsibility to represent our most vulnerable patients in highlighting the associated safeguarding risks. These include the risk of possible harm to patients or third parties and to the clinician-patient relationship due to error, coercion or missed opportunities for appropriate clinical oversight and communication.”

It said the proposed automation of patient records “removes a level of clinical oversight and exacerbates the safeguarding risks. The programme has specific equalities and health inequalities implications and poses particular risks for vulnerable groups including victims and survivors of domestic abuse, under-18s and those living with intellectual and physical disabilities. As such this programme must be implemented with care, ensuring sufficient time for training and communication.”

The college said it intended to complete its own work on guidance by the end of this month. It said: “We have suggested that the most appropriate course of action would be a longer delay to allow time for piloting and a more gradual implementation approach to be adopted.”