The first population-wide personal health record (PHR) contract was the G-Cloud contract of Patients Know Best in 2015.16 hospitals, 400 GP surgeries, 2.4 million people – patients had asked for a single system and the region’s providers were looking for a supplier to deliver it: something never done before at such a scale. They found us on G-Cloud.
The previous year, Deloitte had included us in their Social Innovation Pioneers Programme, helping social enterprises like PKB to scale up. Keith Stewart and the team taught us about frameworks in general – yes, we were that new to all of this – and G-Cloud in particular, so we submitted our application. On the 23rd of May 2014 we were on G-Cloud V, open for business as the first personal health record.
I reminisce because on Saturday 9th November 2024, G-Cloud 14 went live and it marks the 10th year that we’ve been listed on the framework. Providing every citizen with access to their health record – also referenced as a digital health record or patient passport – is now an official government ambition. A decade ago, while we had some clinical teams advocating for us, securing Trust-wide contracts was a challenge. Being on G-Cloud gave trailblazer organisations the means and confidence to lead the way. Today these early adopter Integrated Care Boards are using our PHR to share 20 million acute hospital test results with patients every month. G-Cloud unlocked our potential to deliver at scale.
As other startups seek to go on similar journeys, here’s why it’s worth the tough process:
Shorthand for credibility
G-Cloud is a gateway to major public sector contracts. Its rigour means public servants can trust they’re buying robust, scalable and good value solutions. Of course it’s not perfect, but being listed on G-Cloud is shorthand for credibility and trustworthiness – it signifies to buyers that a supplier meets rigorous standards set by the UK government.
Encouragement of innovation
The framework fosters innovation by allowing smaller suppliers and startups to credibility compete alongside larger firms. This diversity benefits national growth by ensuring the public sector has access to cutting-edge solutions.
Speed with risk mitigation
The framework streamlines the procurement process, making it easier for public sector bodies to purchase cloud services without lengthy tendering procedures. While the overall procurement system is still too cumbersome, G-Cloud offers a route to speed up the process, and speed is essential if we are to implement badly needed digital solutions within the NHS.
Cost efficiency and transparency
Today’s sceptical public demands transparency more than ever. G-Cloud’s transparency drives competitive pricing by suppliers. As a B Corp, transparency is a core value for us; we openly publish information about our tech stack, APIs and roadmap. While navigating this process can be challenging, we welcome measures that ensure a transparent and level playing field for all.
If we can be of help to startups, we would love to pay forward the help we received in our early days. We all need new players because we firmly believe digital innovation is the lifeblood for a more sustainable healthcare system.