The Summary Care Record (SCR) is a central NHS computer system, used nationally across England, which is used to assist emergency doctors and nurses in helping you when you contact them when the surgery is closed.
Your patient record is held securely and confidentially on the electronic system at your GP practice. If you require treatment in another NHS healthcare setting such as an Emergency Department, Minor Injury Unit, or out of hours services, those treating you would be better able to give you appropriate care if some of the information from the GP practice were available to them. This information can now be shared electronically via the Summary Care Record. Your information will be extracted from your GP practices and held on central NHS databases. Initially, the SCR will contain just your medications and allergies.
The information will be used only by authorised health care professionals directly involved in your care. Your permission will be asked before the information is accessed, unless the clinician is unable to ask you and there is a clinical reason for access.
As with all new systems there are pros and cons to think about. When speaking with an emergency doctor, you may overlook something important, and if they have access to your medical record it may help to avoid mistakes/ problems. Nonetheless, you should still be asked to provide consent each time a member of NHS staff wishes to access your record, unless you are medically unable to do so.
On the other hand, you may have strong views about sharing your personal information and wish to keep your information at the level of this practice. Connecting for Health (CfH), the government agency responsible for the Summary Care Record, have agreed with doctors’ leaders that new patients registering with this practice should be able to decide whether or not their information is uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System.
For existing patients it is different in that it is assumed that you want your record uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System unless you actively opt out.
If you would like to opt out, please ask reception for our opt out form.
A parent or guardian can request to opt out children under 16 but ultimately it is the GP’s decision whether to create the records or not, because of their duty of care to the child. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 16 and feel that they are able to understand, then you should make this information available to them.
Who Has Access?
Across all health care settings, including urgent care, community care and outpatient departments in England.
Information Source
GP record
Content
- Your current medications
- Any allergies you have
- Any bad reactions you have had to medicines
- Additional information (upon request to your GP)
For more information visit:
www.digital.nhs.uk