To address these issues, NHS England is implementing AI technology aimed at reducing transcription errors while also improving patient access to their health information via the NHS App.

The Patients Association has highlighted that inaccuracies in records can lead to dangerous delays and misdiagnoses, often stemming from issues within GP practices and secondary care.

National Voices criticized the prevalence of mistakes in both paper and digital records, describing them as 'Swiss cheese records' that create numerous patient care challenges.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the association, pointed out the emotional toll on patients who experience anxiety due to these errors and the burdens of correcting them.

Among those who reported inaccuracies, 12% stated they had been denied treatment due to missing or incorrect information, while 10% received incorrect or inappropriate medication.

Healthwatch advocates for improved record keeping, timely updates, and better communication regarding patients' rights to correct errors in their medical records.

Prof. Kamila Hawthorne from the Royal College of GPs expressed concern over administrative errors, linking them to inadequate IT systems and overwhelming workloads in general practice.

Recent polls reveal that nearly 23% of adults in England have identified errors in their medical records, raising serious concerns about patient safety.

Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, stressed the critical need for accurate medical records, urging the NHS to prioritize data accuracy as it transitions to paperless systems.

The most common errors in medical records include inaccuracies in personal details, which account for 26% of mistakes, followed by medication information errors at 16%.

Such inaccuracies can lead to severe consequences, including missed diagnostic tests, denied treatments, and inappropriate medications, all of which jeopardize patient safety.

The Department of Health and Social Care has deemed it unacceptable for patients to miss vital treatments due to record errors and is committed to enhancing patient control over their medical histories through a unified patient record system.