People in Hertfordshire will soon benefit from better care, thanks to a new programme which will give health and care professionals the ability to view their patients’ up-to-date medical records.
Health and care professionals need accurate information in order to make the best decisions with their patients about their treatment. The My Care Record programme will enable patients’ records to be viewed quickly and accurately, over a secure healthcare information network. Before any records are viewed, patients will be asked for their permission by the health or social care professional caring for them.
Dr Nicky Williams, a Hertfordshire GP and deputy clinical Chair of East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said:
“We know that patients want us to make informed decisions about their treatment, based on the most accurate information about their health. By securely accessing up-to-date information about our patients during consultations, medical professionals can make well-informed decisions and avoid the need for unnecessary, expensive and invasive tests and paperwork.”
My Care Record does not create a new record for patients, but instead allows a patient’s existing records to be viewed through a secure healthcare information network, as long as they have given their permission for this to take place. An example could include allowing a hospital doctor to see a person’s previous medical treatment or conditions in order to treat them appropriately.
Third parties, private companies and health and care staff who are not directly involved in a patient’s care will not be able to access their records. Existing arrangements for sharing information – by phone, fax, email or post – will be maintained to ensure that patients have a choice about how their information is viewed and to provide for those who choose to ‘opt out’ of the programme.
A dedicated website has been created for people who want to find out more about My Care Record and how it will work.
Go to www.mycarerecord.org.uk to read more and view detailed questions and answers about the programme, which have begun to be implemented at the end of January 2017.