Summary Care Records are proving to be a real benefit to Gurkha families needing urgent hospital care.
Thousands of people in east Kent now have the secure electronic health records, which include details of their allergies, previous reactions to treatment and medication.
Jan Norgate, Practice Manager at White House Surgery in Folkestone, said the scheme is helping to overcome the challenges faced by Nepalese patients, some of whom speak little English, and have trouble communicating with hospital staff.
Jan explained: “We used to get lots of calls from staff at Kent and Canterbury Hospital ringing to check the medication that some of our Nepalese patients were on.
“Since the introduction of the Summary Care Records these calls have dropped dramatically, as healthcare staff can simply access their records. This not only reduces the frustration some of our Nepalese patients must feel, but also means they can be treated faster.”
More than half of patients in east Kent are on course to have their own potentially life-saving record by the spring, which will help them get faster, safer care, out of hours or in an emergency.
The new records save precious time as NHS healthcare staff no longer have to obtain the information by letter, email or fax, but can access the information immediately. Only health professionals can view details and only do so with the patient's consent, unless it is an emergency.
Patients in more than 60 practices in east Kent have already received letters informing them about the scheme and the creation of the records is under way. As soon as a practice is ready to roll out the scheme, patients will receive an information pack, with details of how to opt out if they wish.
Kent and Canterbury Hospital is piloting the scheme, which is set to be extended to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate later in the year.
South East Health out-of-hours doctors are also now able to view the Summary Care Records, as well as community walk-in centres, minor injury units and Pilgrims Hospices throughout the district.
NHS teams are running a series of around 45 drop-in sessions throughout February and March to answer patients’ questions and give them information about how to register for an Advanced HealthSpace which will allow patients to view their own Summary Care Record, once it has been created.
HealthSpace is a secure NHS website where patients with a basic account, can store and keep track of personal health information such as their blood pressure, weight and hospital appointments. It is a free service which is available to everyone aged 16 or over who is living in England and registered with a GP.
To view their own Summary Care Record, patients will need to upgrade their HealthSpace Basic account to an Advanced account. This can be done at any of the various drop in sessions being held across the area.
To find out if your practice is participating or to find out about a drop-in session near you visit www.easternandcoastalkent.nhs.uk/scr
Percentage of practices now live with uploaded records
14 February 2012
