Summary Care Records
The Summary Care Record is part of the NHS Care Records Service. Coventry GPs have agreed to work with this project as they believe it will mean better, safer care wherever you are treated. At first, your Summary Care Record will contain vital information about allergies, current and historic prescriptions and any previous bad reactions to medicines. It will be available to health professionals treating patients in a variety of settings. There are strict security measures surrounding the Summary Care Records. Staff will only be able to view the information in your Summary Care Record if they are involved in your treatment and have consent from you.
From July 2011 all patients registered with a GP in Coventry were sent a letter through the post advising of these important changes to the way in which their health information is managed.
Do I have to have an NHS Summary Care Record?
No. Summary Care Records are created to provide better, safer care but you do not have to have one. If you are happy to have one, you do not need to do anything; one will be created for you automatically. However, if you choose not to have one, you can opt out by filling in the ‘opt out’ form and sending it to your GP. There is also an ‘opt out’ form in provided in your letter.
Which practices are already involved?
We’re in the process of preparing the schedule of when practices in Coventry will introduce NHS Care Records Service.
Who should I contact if I want to find out more?
You can call the national NHS Care Records Patient Information Line: 0300 123 3020. You can also find more information at www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk
NHS Coventry’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) are available on 024 7624 6002 from Monday to Friday (9am until 5pm) and they will be happy to talk things through with you if you have any questions about NHS Summary Care Records.
How is my confidentiality protected?
By law, everyone working for or on behalf of the NHS must respect your confidentiality and keep all information about you secure. In every place where you’re treated by the NHS, there are people responsible for protecting your confidentiality. These people are often known as Caldicott Guardians.
The NHS publishes a Care Records Guarantee for England. This says how the NHS Care Records Service will collect, store and allow access to your electronic records, and your options to take part in the service.
Click on the link to download a copy of the Care Records Guarantee
For more information visit the national information on the Summary Care Record.
NHS Coventry will be hosting drop-in sessions across the city where you can come along and ask any questions you have about Summary Care Records. Details of these sessions are on the next page.
Drop-in sessions:
Monday 18th July 2011 from 10am till 4pm
Central Methodist Hall, Warwick Lane, Coventry CV1 2HA
Tuesday 19th July 2011
11-2pm Foleshill Children Centre, 454 Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV6 5LB
Tuesday 19th July 2011
5-7pm Coventry & Warwick Hospital, Podiatry Meeting Room, Ground Floor,
Wednesday 20th July 2011
11-2pm Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre, Winston Avenue, Coventry, CV2 1DX
Thursday 21st July 2011
11-2pm Tile Hill Library, Jardine Cresent, Coventry, CV4 9PL
- GP
GP stands for General Practitioner. GPs are family doctors.