Enabling Patients to Access to General PracticeRecords and Online Services
By 2015 it is planned that everyone in England will be able to use the internet to book appointments with their GP practice, order repeat medication and securely view their GP medical record[1].
NHS South of England is running a project in Kent, Surrey Sussex to find out what needs tohappen to deliver this ambition locally.
What are the benefits?
Research shows that making it easier for patients to see key information about their condition and treatmentcan help themto manage their health better[2].
Experience from GP practices which already offer their patients online access to records and services indicates that:
- Relationships between patients and clinicians improve
- Patients are more likely to follow clinical advice
- Continuity of care is improved, as patients can share information with other professionals treating them.
- Patients feel more informed and involved in their care.
- Patients feel they understand their care better.
- Patients will contact the practice less as they can find the information they want for themselves e.g. test results, and carry out routine tasks via the internet.
In summary,it is envisaged that providing patients with greater access to records and online services will help improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of GP practice services.
What information and services will be available to patients?
In future patients will be able to do the following, via secure internet access to their GP practice:
- make / cancel appointments
- order repeat prescriptions
- viewtheir medical record, including test results, past consultations, medication, and letters between theirGP and other health professionals
- find out more about their own condition, through links to trusted web-sites and information sources
- securelysend messages tohealth professionals treating them.
What is NHS South of England doing?
Most practices can already offer online services such as appointment booking and repeat prescription ordering, however only less than 30% actually do. Around halfthe GP practices in England are technically able to give patients online access to their medical records but less than 1% currently offer this.
The NHS South of England project, which runs from autumn 2012 to March 2013, will support a small group of GP practicesto use records access and online services effectively. We will share learning from this project to:
•Raise awareness of the benefits of patient access to records and online services
•Flag-up any problems or barriers which need to be addressed, and
•Provide guidance to support the future roll-out of online access.
If you would like to find out more about this project or how you can get involved please contact Becky 07824 361 906.
[1]The Power of Information
[2]