NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is working with local GP Surgeries, Unscheduled Care Providers and the NHS Care Records Service to introduce an improved system for managing electronic health records known as the Summary Care Record. These improvements will mean a range of benefits to patients including quicker, safer ways to get important information to NHS staff, especially in an emergency.
The new Summary Care Record is being phased in gradually over the next 18 months. As each group of GP practices is able to offer this potentially life saving service we will write to patients to tell them more about it and the choices they have.
Benefits to patients include:
Improvements to care
The reliance on paper records, and their transference from one location to another, inevitably increases the risk of information being lost. One central, electronically held Summary Care Record for each patient will reduce this possibility.
Better treatment in emergencies and out of hours
The Summary Care Record will be available to health care staff treating patients anywhere in England. This will be particularly useful in emergencies or when patients need treatment out of hours or when you are away from home.
Faster access
Patient care will no longer be delayed by the sending of records from one to another, and patients will not be required to repeat information to different health care staff.
Improved information flow between patient and staff
The Summary Care Record will contain details of key health information including medications, allergies and any bad reactions to medicines.
Authorised health care staff will be able to see the parts of the Record that are relevant to them, improving the quality of treatment and care.
Personal access
Patients will be able to access their own Summary Care Record through web service HealthSpace, giving them a greater say in, and more control over a secure web service HealthSpace, their health and well being.
More tailored care
Information about how patients would like to be treated – for example, if they need access to information in Braille, or need wheelchair access – can be added to the record through HealthSpace. This will help cater for individual needs.
Confidentiality and security
Information in the Summary Care Record is safe and secure and is protected by the strongest security measures available for handling data.
For further information please contact Joanne Quinn or Glynis Miller on 01227 773565.
Who has accessed my Summary Care Record?
If you wish to know who has accessed your Summary Care Record please print, complete and return the application form to the address shown on the form. Your request will be dealt with under the Data Protection Act 1998.
