The target was exceeded on 22nd February, with five weeks to spare. The roll-out is now continuing as the project team looks to maintain the momentum and get even more primary care trusts (PCTs) and practices involved in the roll-out.

"Achievement of the target is down to an immense amount of hard work, not just from the central GP2GP team but also the suppliers currently involved in the roll-out - EMIS and INPS - plus GP practices and local staff," says Primary Care Programme Manager Sandy Scales.

Practises are currently receiving version 1.0 of GP2GP. They will be upgraded to version 1.1 - which will ultimately facilitate 'interoperable' transfers between practices with different clinical systems - once it has been thoroughly trialled at Croydon PCT.

Looking ahead, Sandy says: "We are still consulting with the suppliers, SHAs, PCTs and other stakeholders about our deployment schedule for 2007/08.

"However, we will be looking to ramp up the roll-out considerably, with more suppliers coming on board over the next 12 months. To have achieved the target for the current financial year with plenty of time to spare is very reassuring."