SHARING YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS

There are currently 3 initiatives for sharing medical records all of which are contained within the NHS and do not involve sharing data with any third party such as Insurance Companies.  We have tried to give you brief information about each of them so that you can better understand and maybe informed choices. 

1  SUMMARY CARE RECORD

2  EDSM (Electronic Data Sharing Model)SCR (Summary Care Record

3  CARE DATA (HSCIC)

Please read on and find appropriate leaflets, consent or op-out  forms.

1  (SCR)  Summary Care Record - This information is accessible to authorised healthcare staff in hospitals throughout England and can support better, safer prescribing of medication for patients by providing up-todate information on your allergies, previous adverse reactions and medications. Patient care can be supported for safer care by healthcare staff having faster access to medical information and patients may not be required to repeat information to different NHS staff treating them.  You will be asked for your permission before anyone looks at your SCR except in the case of an emergency where you can't give permission eg: if you are unconscious.    . 

 For more information download the patient leaflet.

If you do not wish this information to be shared, please download, complete and return the Opt Out form to the surgery so that we can update your records.

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2  EDSM - Enhanced Data Sharing Model 

The clinical computer system used at White House Farm Medical Centre is SystmOne.  It is a system that is used widely in this area and across England.  This system gives us a facility (The Enhanced Data Sharing Model - EDSM) to share your health record with other health providers involved in your care.  Your health record includes your medical history, details about your medication and any allergies you may have.  You can now choose whether to share these full medical details with other health provider units (for example District nurses). 

Many organisations may use SystmOne including some GP practices, Out of Hours services, Children's services, Community services and some hospitals.  Sharing your health record will help us deliver the best level of care for you.

We have available a patient guide  which will help you make choices. Enhanced-DSM-3.01-model-A-guide-for-patients.pdf.  You have two choices which allow you to control how your record is shared.  You can change these choices at any time by completing the consent form below 

Sharing OUT

This controls whether your information recorded at this practice can be shared with other health care providers.

Sharing IN

This determines whether or not this practice can view information in your record that has been entered by other services who are providing care for you or who may provide care for you in the future.

Imagine you are receiving care from three services, your GP, a district nurse and a smoking clinic.  You want your GP and district nurse to share information with each other and you want both of them to know your progress at the smoking clinic.  However, you don't want the smoking clinic to see any of your other medical information.

Your sharing choices at each place would be:-

Download a consent form: LEAFLET_-_Consent_form_Electronic_Patient_Record_-_sharing_information_(Patient_Leaflet-guide)_.docx   Please return the completed form to the surgery so that we can update your records.

Exceptions

1. In very exceptional circumstances your information may be shared without your permission - for example if your life is at risk.

2. A parent can give consent to share a child’s record.  This will be recoded as “Consent Not Asked” and “parental consent give” noted as the reason why the record was shared.

3. Vaccinations will be shared regardless of whether there is a consent to share or not.

3    CARE.DATA (HSCIC)

What is care.data?  The NHS has some of the best information systems in the world.  Since the 1980's, information has been collected about every hospital admission, nationwide.  This information is brought together at the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).  This information has been invaluable for monitoring the quality of hospital care, for planning NHS services, and for conducting research into new treatments.  However, the information collected is incomplete, with areas such as prescribing and test results not currently included.  Additionally, whilst some of this type of information is already used for care provided outside hospitals, there are significant gaps and as a result, it is not possible to see a complete picture of the care that individuals receive.

NHS England has therefore commissioned a programme on behalf of the NHS, Public health and Social care services to address these gaps.  Known as the care.data programme, This initiative has been designed to ensure that there is more rounded information available to patients, clinicians, researches and the people that plan health and care services. 

It is important that you read the leaflet Better_Information_Means_Better_Care.pdf and perhaps Care.data_Patient_frequently_asked_questions.pdf  so that you can understand how information in medical records can be used to improve the way that healthcare is delivered.

If you are happy for your information to be used then you do not need to do anything.  But if you have concerns or if you do not want information that identifies you from being shared outside your GP Practice, as described above inform your GP or a member of Practice Staff.  They will attach a code to your record which will prevent your information being used other than where necessary by law, such as in case of a public health emergency.

If you would like to opt-out please complete the online form and return this to the practice so that we can record your choice.  Care.data_Opt_Out_Form_Jan_14.docx.