NHS Care Records Service
As many of our patients are aware, St. Luke’s Medical Centre is one of the only practices in the country that has paper patient records rather than computer ones. The practice has not computerised the records because of concern over the impact that this would have on our consultations and the fear that the computer screen would interfere with the doctor - patient relationship. However, we did introduce a clinical computer system in 2004, but decided that we would not have terminals on the consulting room desks. We have limited clinical data on this system, and use it as an administrative tool. This includes most repeat prescribing, and to help with the management of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. More recently we have transferred our appointment book to the computers, which has made it possible to have two phone lines open.
However, computers are becoming more and more integrated into many aspects of the NHS, and it remains to be seen how long it makes sense to continue as we are.
Computers in the NHS have been in the news fairly regularly over the past few months. The NHS national programme for IT (NPfIT) is a £12bn system, the largest non military computer system ever commissioned. In common with many governmental computer systems, the programme is running years behind schedule and way over budget. The system is designed to drag the NHS's antiquated data systems into the 21st century. Central to this is the intention to make patients' clinical records accessible electronically at all NHS sites across England via an information ‘spine’.
Up until now, patients’ main medical records have been held by their GP, with hospitals and other service providers each having separate files. Thus, if a patient suddenly falls ill or is involved in an accident while away from home, the clinicians treating them could be missing important information relevant to that patient’s care. The aim of the new system is to make relevant details available to clinicians who need it across the country. While this seams to make sense, many people have concern over the security of the information, and who will have access to it either legitimately or by hacking into the system. The records will still be covered by the data protection act 1998. At first only summaries would be uploaded (name, date of birth, medicines prescribed and allergies) but it is clear that, over time, this will be added to.
This programme is being gradually introduced, and it is not yet known when records in Gloucestershire will be uploaded.
It is also important to know that you have a right to opt out and keep your records off the ‘spine’. Although the information is not very clear at the moment, I understand that all patients will be written to prior to the upload.
For more information I would suggest looking at
http://www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk for the ‘Government view’ and
www.TheBigOptOut.org/forGPs for the alternative view.
More information should follow, but in the meantime anyone who wishes to keep their records off the spine will need to write to the practice. A letter to complete can be found here or picked up from the surgery.
Adam Beard
Practice Manager