Summary Care Records (SCR) are an electronic record of important patient information, created from GP medical records. They can be seen and used by authorised staff in other areas of the health and care system involved in the patient’s direct care.

Access to SCR information means that care in other settings is safer, reducing the risk of prescribing errors. It also helps avoid delays to urgent care.

What information is shared in a SCR?

– Medications you are currently taking

– Allergies and details of any previous bad reactions to medicines

– your name, address. date of birth and NHS number.

Additional Information in Summary Care Record

By including addtional information in a patient’s SCR, more information is available. This will improve the flow of information across the health and care system, increase safety and efficiency and improve care. It is particularly useful for people with complex or long term conditions, or patients reaching end of life.

Additional information will include:

– Significant past and present medical history

– Reason for medication you are currently taking

– anticipatory care information (such as information about the management of long term conditions)

– end of life care information

– immunisations

Who can see your Summary Care Record?

Only healthcare staff will have access to your summary care record, they will:

– need to be directly involved in caring for you

– need to have a NHS Smartcard with a chip and passcode

– Only see the information they need to do their job

– have their details recorded every time they look at your record.

Health care staff should ask for your permission every time they need to look at your SCR, unless they cannot ask you (for example you are unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate). Healthcare staff will only look at your SCR if it s consider to be in your best interest.

Can you dissent to sharing your summary care record?

The practice supports SCR however, as a patient you can choose to dissent from sharing your information.

– If you consent to our summary care record being shared you do not need to do anything as an SCR will have been created for you.

– If you consent to your ‘Additional Information’ being shared, you will need to let us know via email or letter.

-If you do NOT want to share your summary care record you will need to let us know via email or letter.

Remember, you can change your mind at any time by contacting the practice.