Summary Care Records (SCR)
The NHS Summary Care Record will affect the way in which health records are stored and managed. The NHS Summary Care Record is an electronic record of important information about a patient’s health; initially it will contain key information including medication, adverse reactions and allergies. This information will be taken from the GP Clinical Systems.
Anyone aged 16 and over that is registered with a GP Practice in England will have a Summary Care Record created for them unless they choose to opt-out. Children will be given an NHS Summary Care Record too. If a parent or legal guardian of a child under 16 feels that their child is old enough to understand and make their own choice about opting-out (Fraser Competent), the parent or legal guardian can arrange for the child to see their GP so that a decision can be made.
Healthcare staff will access Summary Care Records using an NHS Smartcard.
Healthcare staff will be required to ask the patient’s permission to view their Summary Care Record each time access is needed, except in exceptional circumstances.
In time more information can be added to the Summary Care Record and Healthcare staff will be able to share important information such as diagnoses and test results when necessary, giving a more complete and accurate picture of a patient’s health history.
In the week commencing 8 March 2010 the PCT will be running a Public Information Programme for a period of 12 weeks. All patients registered with a GP Practice in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin will receive a letter and information pack telling them about Summary Care Records, what their choices are and how they can obtain further information.
More information about Summary Care Records can be found at: www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr
Other usesful links:
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/documents/summary.pdf - a summary of the Summary Care Record programme (opens as a PDF document in a new window)
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/documents/key_benefits.pdf a summary of the benefits of the Summary Care Records programme (opens as a PDF document in a new window)
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr/documents/optout.pdf - If you want to opt-out of the Summary Care Records programme, more information can be found here (opens as a PDF in a new window)
http://www.nigb.nhs.uk/guarantee/2009-nhs-crg.pdf - Information on the NHS Care Records Guarantee (opens as a PDF in a new window)
What are my options?
1) I do want to have a Summary Care Record, I am happy for my records to be sent to it
2) I do not want a Summary Care Record, I am not happy for my records to be sent to it
3) I don't know whether I want a Summary Care Record, I will decide later
What happens next?
If you choose option 1) we will set our system to create a SCR for you
If you choose option 2) we will set our system to not create a SCR for you
(you will be able to have one created at a later date if you wish)
If you choose option 3) we will also set our system to not create a SCR for you. You will be able to have one created at a later date
These three options give you complete control over what happens to your records. You can change a previous decision but it is important to remember that if you have a Summary Care Record and it has ever been viewed, then thereafter, whilst you can stop any further information being added to it, you will not be able to have the previous data deleted.