Electronic care records may improve patient care

The changes to the NHS proposed by this coalition government are as controversial as they are wide-reaching.

But one aspect of it, which so far has attracted fewer headlines, is the introduction of a national electronic recording system so patients’ medical information is easily accessible by health professionals.

The Summary Care Record is described by Simon Burns, health minister, in an article in The Daily Telegraph as a “way of making sure the NHS knows what it needs to about [a patient’s] condition.

The aim is that by using the Record patients can ensure that NHS staff know about specific medication or treatment pertinent to their condition, at any time.

Mr Burns says it “gives patients a stronger voice” and avoids seriously ill people having to repeatedly explain their medical history or requirements with multiple health professionals.

But it also means seriously ill people can add information about their end of life wishes such as ‘do not resuscitate’ (DNR) orders or a desire to die at home rather than be taken into hospital.

As the Record can be accessed by out-of-hours GPs and paramedics, it means in emergency situations these requests can be read and acted upon, even if the patient is too unwell to explain themselves. The aim is that it will ensure a dignified death, as they want, for more people.

The Summary Care Record contains information about medications, allergies and adverse reactions to certain drugs. So far only about one fifth of patients in England — 8.8 million — have had this record created for them but all NHS patients will be offered it.

These care records are being introduced despite the government announcing it is scrapping the national NHS database.

A number of medical charities are raising awareness of the benefits of the Record for people suffering from conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung disease and muscular dystrophy.

This article was published on Wed 12 October 2011