Press release
Summary Care Records scheme extends across Bury
More patients in Bury than ever before will benefit from having a Summary Care Record.
Two more GP practices, Prestwich Health Centre (Dr Ralph and Dr Goolam-Hossen) and The Elms Medical Centre have joined the scheme, meaning that an additional 10,000 patients can have a Summary Care Record created for them.
The Summary Care Record is a secure electronic record of patient’s vital health information that can be shared between health-care staff involved in that patient’s care, ensuring vital information is at hand during treatment.
The innovative scheme give doctors and nurses at sites across Bury access to information about patients’ allergies, medication and any bad reactions patients may have had to medication in the past. Summary Care Records greatly increase effective access to patient information and can give medical professionals details of a patient’s essential medical history in the event of an emergency. A Summary Care Record is only accessible by staff directly involved in a patient’s treatment.
Patients have the option not to be part of the scheme. All patients at the practices introducing Summary Care Records will receive a letter informing them of their options, they will then have 12 weeks to decide if they do not want to take part.
Some improvements have recently been made to the scheme, for example each time a health professional wants to look at a Summary Care Record they will ask for the patient’s permission first. If the patient does not give permission, the health professional will not be able to view the record. Additional important information about a patient’s health such as significant past illnesses and health problems, illnesses for which they take regular medication or important test results can now be added to Summary Care Records.
All patients whose practices are already taking part in the Summary Care Record scheme will receive a letter this week, updating them on these changes.
ENDS
Date: 21st September 2009
For press & media enquiries: Contact Gemma Wantling, NPfIT Communications Manager, NHS Bury on 0161 655 1736 or email gemma.wantling@hmrpct.nhs.uk
Notes to editor:
The Summary Care Record is part of the NHS Care Records Service which aims to transform how the NHS uses information to support patient care. The NHS Care Records Service is all about creating and linking up electronic records, both within one particular organisation and also with other local organisations where patients may receive care, such as hospitals, GP practices and clinics.
This will mean that the NHS staff responsible for caring for a patient will be able to get a better understanding of their needs because they will have access to information about their care, where and when it is needed via a secure computer system.
The NHS Care Record is made up of two parts; a Detailed Record and a Summary Care Record. Over 130,000 patients will soon have a Summary Care Record, this equates to almost 70% of the population of Bury. Nationally 450,000 patients have a Summary Care Record. The Detailed Care Record programme will be rolled out nationally over the coming years.
Strict and robust safeguards are in place to protect the security and confidentiality of every patient's health care record. The new IT systems incorporate state-of-the-art security safeguards, stronger than those protecting internet bank accounts. Access to patient information will only be available to authorised NHS healthcare professionals who must be authenticated users and must be directly involved in the