Practices are to keep their panic button, it has been announced.

The “button” was to have been phased out of the EMIS management system used by many practices. It was available for use by staff facing a security crisis or clinical emergencies. EMIS had said the third party technology that supports the button was “no longer reliable”.

The British Medical Association yesterday said it had successfully lobbied EMIS to keep the button.

Dr David Wrigley, the deputy chair of its GP committee in England, said: “A lot of practices use EMIS and have relied on the panic button, a built-in part of the system, during security alerts and clinical emergencies. Potentially taking something that is a means of a call for help away, makes many practices extremely vulnerable. The number one priority for any doctor is ensuring patient safety, which is why such changes to the EMIS system have an impact. We have a duty of care to voice our concerns when there is a risk and are pleased to see they have been taken seriously.

“We know that some practices face technical challenges with the system so do not use it, but this is only a sign that the NHS IT infrastructure across this country is seriously inadequate. We need to see actual investment in practices to not only help them stay open but ensure that they are as safe a space as possible.”