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 or Minor Injury Unit, 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, used nationally across England

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.

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 can be added to your Summary Care Record to enhance it. 

An enhanced Summary Care Record can include the following;

• Your long-term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart problems or rare medical conditions.
• Your relevant medical history - clinical procedures that you have had, why you need a particular medicine, the care you are currently receiving and clinical advice to support your future care. 
• Your healthcare needs and personal preferences - for example, particular comunication needs or preferences or legal decisions about your care that you would like to be know if you are treated by emergency services. 
• Immunisations - details of previous vaccinations, such as tetanus and routine childhood jabs.

Please note that specific sensitive information such as fertility treatments, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy terminations or gender reassignment will not be included - unless you specifically ask for any of these items to be included. 

If you choose to add additional information through the Enhanced Summary Care Record, this can further increase the quality of your care.

Additional information can also empower you if you need some help to communicate your complex care needs. 

If you would like to request an Enhanced Summary Care Record then please speak to your clinician when you next visit the practice. 

For more information visit: www.digital.nhs.uk