News
Summary care records introduced in Devon
All patients in Devon are being asked if they would like to take part in a new system for making key details about their health available to any NHS doctor who treats them.
They will receive a letter this week telling them about the new electronic records, and asking them to decide by the middle of June whether they would like to have one.
The electronic record - known as the summary care record - will hold three potentially vital pieces of information: what medication a patient is taking, whether they have allergies, and whether they have had adverse reactions to any medicines.
Health leaders in Devon say this information could be vitally important to clinicians - especially out of hours or in an emergency. No electronic records will be created in Devon before 15 June, and they will then be created in a phased way over the following 18 months.
Patients are also being told how to opt out of the system if they do not want to take part.Dr Nick D'Arcy, the GP who chairs NHS Devon's senior clinical committee, said: "We think it will be invaluable for doctors and other NHS clinicians to be able to see at a glance if the patient they're treating has an allergy, or shouldn't be given a certain medicine."In some circumstances, instant access to this sort of information could be crucial. We believe the summary care record could play an important part in making care safer."
The three pieces of information held on the summary care record will be available only to NHS clinicians directly involved in the patient's care. Summary care records will not include a full medical history. In due course, healthcare professionals involved in a patient's care may add details to the care record about the treatment they have given. Hospital discharge notes might also be added - but nothing will be added without the patient's consent - and the patient must be asked every time if they agree to the way the record is being updated.
Anyone wanting to opt out of the summary care records scheme should call 0845 603 8510 and ask for an opt-out form to be sent to them. Or they can visit NHS Devon's website at www.devonpct.nhs.uk where they should scroll down the page and click on the purple ‘summary care records' button. The opt-out form can be found on the following page.
Patients who do not want a summary care record need to complete the opt-out form and give it to their GP practice by 15 June.
Those who would like a summary care record do not need to take any action - the record will be created automatically.
Will this scheme work for you? Contact LINk Devon to give your views.