Our Bank Member survey: Digital access to patient systems

The second of the five priority areas identified from the Bank Member survey in 2024/25, was the need for access to the right systems. Without it, Bank Members are unable to deliver safe, effective and joined-up care. The survey showed that there are still a number of Bank Members who don’t have full access to the digital tools they need every day. 

Your feedback told us:

• Some Bank Members reported difficulty with the right access to the appropriate electronic clinical systems.
• There is also still some challenge for our workers around not having full access to electronic patient records.
• Our Bank Members described the impact this access has on their role and the ability to provide the level of patient care that they want to provide.

How are we supporting the changes you need? 

Trust-by-Trust Audits 

• We are carrying out detailed audits across all our Trusts to understand where and why Bank Members do and don’t have access to certain systems. 
• This includes identifying systemic blockers, such as IT processes, training gaps or security restrictions. 

Partnership with IT Leads 

• We are working directly with Trust IT teams to ensure that Bank Members are granted appropriate access to essential systems, including patient records.
• We are sharing solutions from Trusts who have already overcome these challenges, so good practice can spread quickly.
• We are working with Trust teams to ensure that Trust specific training on electronic patient record systems is available for Bank Members to complete ahead of their first shift. 

• Our improvement group are developing ways to make digital access part of the standard onboarding process for Bank Members.

• Going forward, you should always have access to essential systems when working shifts.
• Admission to digital tools will be embedded as part of your onboarding and deployment.
• Over time, this will mean faster and more consistent care for patients — and a better working experience for our Bank Members.

What’s Next?

We will continue to work closely with Trusts to roll out improvements and will monitor progress through both audits and follow-up surveys. Where access remains a challenge, we will highlight it and work to find solutions.

Digital access is a basic requirement for all our Bank Members. Together, we are committed to ensuring that every Bank Member has the same tools, information and systems as substantive colleagues, so you can always deliver effective patient care.