NHS summary care record card. Have you heard about them??

[SailAway]

I've just recieved a letter from the NHS stating that they are going to introduce the NHS summary record card.

The description they are giving og them makes me uneasy. Whilst I can totally see the point of having the information all in one place (especially I you have a medical condition which means you are followed by various consultants/GP etc..), I can't keep wondering what exactely will go into them.

The NHS leaflet stipulates that anything that is on it will be agreed with you before hand but I'm struggling to see how it will work with GPs, consultant who already are filling their own files - electronic or not-. How wil they have time to fill that in with the agreement of the patient?

Apparently, only people that need some info will be able to access it and then just the bits that they need. How? (I'm being very negative there but I can remember very clearly the same being said about the files in SS registers and they are still being accessed by people that shouldn't)

Is the idea there to replace all papers/electronic files by the record card?

How will this file get updated ? ie they will start by listing your medication/allegies today. In 2 years time, you change the medication, will the old one disappeared or will you have both medication on? Will it stipulate for how long you are suppose to take it? How will the health professional know whether it is an up to date version if the patient has to agree to the info put on first (a patient migt to have X, Y medication put on but not Z because it is a very powerful drug and they don't want people to know about it - I'm thinking about AD/psychotic drugs for example)

It looks like to me that in a close future, some one will be able to access to the whole medical life of a person by pressing one button. Some big advantages obvioulsy but I can see lots of problems too (like the possibility that a consultant will make a judgemental evaluation of the patient on the basis of what medication he has or not agree to take even if it's nothing to do with said consultant).

What do you think?

bump

I don't know a great deal about the summary care record card, but possibly may be able to reassure you slightly about access. I work for the NHS, and as an employee the features of the patient information computer system I access are strictly limited, and pre-approved by my manager based on what I need for my job, there are lots of tabs greyed out that I don't have any access to. Also there are various clinical systems I don't have any access to at all, as there would be no need to in my job - the NHS is careful to limit access to those who genuinely need it to carry out their work. This in in addition to us all being trained as to the importance of data protection, and it being made crystal clear that looking at information when not necessary for work purposes is a disciplinary matter.

www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk/summary

info on the summary care records.

Thanks,

I always find the info on leaflets very sktechy and end up with lots more questions than I had at the start!

Will have a look at the link too

So if I understand well, they want to replace all the paper copies held by consultants + infos from GP in one system.

Health professional will record what is happening to yur care ie all the diagnostic, issues that you might have etc...

I've failed to see how the patient could have an input on that is and isn't going in these records (just like we don't have an input on the notes currently held by consultants & GP).
I can't understand what is and isn't possible to 'hide' and what could be overruled (eg in case of an accident and the patient being unconscious)....

Why do I feel there is a lot that they don't say and that it is done on purpose

You don't have to have one, you can opt out. Interestingly my parents' GP practice has a notice up advising all their patients to opt out...

Now that's interesting!

I know I can opt out but I want to do it for the right reasons not because of a vague feeling iyswim.

I've had a similar letter
Leaning towards opting out

I had that letter too, I think it might be ok, for instance, I went OOH a couple of months ago, I needed Anti-biotics but am very allergic to a certain type. he didnt know which ones they where, but if he had my records thenhe would of known.

I have opted out on the basis that no government computer system ever works, and that the BMA are against this type of record keeping.

You can opt out by going onto the site- how you opt out is hidden away but you will find it in the end- I think they have made it hard on purpose.

loopylou-don't know what OHH is, but in that situation I suspect that either they would have given you some ABs which very few people are allergic to, or delayed giving you them til you could speak, or they had your records from your GP.

i am going to opt out.
i work in the nhs and know how nosey some people are.
we have to go to our gp's practice to opt out.

and we were advised re staff looking at people's notes, that it would be known somehow, and if you would that type of person to do so you were in the wrong job

I am sure this is a whole lot of supposition, but really if the documents will be held and managed overseas, there is a possibility that these documents can be seen by those who would not be entitled to the information (like life insurance companies)

I am going to opt out. I can't see how having a centralised summary of my medical conditions is going to help.

I work in GP land and in our area it has been put on hold due to security concerns.

We have lots of unanswered questions and therefore, so do our patients.

It is an excellent idea in princple, if you need to see a doctor out of hours or at the hospital, they would have instant access to your whole records and this would reduce the risk of medications clashing etc. They would be able to treat you holistically rather than just going by what they are faced with.

The problem at the moment is that they have rushed it through and are not doing enough to assure people that it is secure.

Personally, I am not too worried and haven't opted out but I can absolutely understand why people are concerned.

Sailaway - the patient input they talk about is where you will be able to register yourself for an espace account (I think that's what ot's called??) and you can view you record allowing you to check it for inaccuracies. It is a bit misleading as it doesn't mean you can add to or alter it in any way (for obvious reasons!)

If you are unsure you can opt out for now. I think it is of most benefit for people with drug allergies or serious/complex medical problems who are more likely to find themselves in an urgent situation IYSWIM.

fleshwound - I am certain there is no handling of documents other than via the NHS spine which is all based in England. The information doesn't pass back and forth as such, they are just accessing the information that is already in you gp notes. Information can only be accessed with a smart card which are only issued to NHS employees.

There's info about opting out here.

The Big Opt Out My GP has this information up in his surgery.

I have a child with complex health problems and can see the pros in this but I am also concerned about the safety of the data with regards as to who can access it from within the NHS. Also as to who may be able to access in the future, for example a potential employer or insurance company. I don't want my premiums loaded or refused altogether because someone decides from my records that I'm a worse risk than I really am.

Ok, I know I am starting to sound like a Summary Care record sales person but that sort of information sharing is and remains illegal.

It is currently a criminal offence for anyone to divulge information about your medical records to a third party and that remains the case however the information is stored. (There is a code of practice for GPs which is about 172 pages long all about how information can and can't be shared/stored)

If an insurance company wants to view your records, you must give your signed consent before they can do so. It isn't atall unusual for this to happen and it won't be any different with the electronic records. You will still have to give your consent.

Sorry, i know I am banging on but I take confidentiality terribly seriously in my job and I hate to think that people think this information is going to be more available than it is now.

(Gets off of high horse)

The real issue perhaps is how often will any of us be rushed to A&E?
If we are, we will need life-saving care- that will most likely not have to include knowledge of all our medical history.

Tests etc can be carried out at the time if there a re any uncertainties and people who have allergies etc to meds or who have chronic conditions such as diabetes etc can/should wear Medialert braclets etc etc anyway.

The real risk in hospital appear to be from lack of cleanliness- eg MESA and other serious bugs- not in giving people in A&E the wrong treatment.

It;s easy to say that Brad but I know of children/teenagers who were on work experience who had access at GP's surgeries to patient notes...they shouldn't have but the files were there if they wanted to peep.

I don't dispute that there will be cases within the NHS where access is wrongly given. What I am saying is that deliberate sharing with insurance companies/employers etc will not be any different than it is now.

Don't get me started on work expereince - totally inappropriate - grrrrrr!

Bradsmissus - yes I know that is the case at the moment but I am talking about in the future. I unconvinced that it will remain so.

And whilst some people do take confidentiality seriously - I have to myself - there have been some almighty cockups haven't there? Child Benefit details for example, and all my family's security details on an armed forces database that went astray. That was everything about us, NI numbers, passport details the lot.

I suspect - being very alarmist- that in time the plan is to have a 1984 scenario where everything about us will be held on one computer system.

IMO this is the thin edge of a very big wedge.
Course, if you vote Tory they plan to scrap it!!