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Summary Care Record –
your emergency care summary
NHS Summary Care Records
Today, records are kept in all the places where you receive health care. Because we had no national system for sharing records we could usually only share information from your records by letter, email, fax or phone. At times, this can slow down treatment and sometimes information can be hard to access.
By making more health records electronic, there will be quicker ways to get important information to NHS healthcare staff treating you, including in an emergency.
Initially, Summary Care Records will contain important health information including:
- allergies
- current and repeat medications
- adverse reactions to medicines
NHS staff involved in your care - with your permission - may add details about any significant health problems, long term conditions and other relevant health information that may be useful in an emergency treatment situation.
A Summary Care Record will be available anywhere in England and NHS staff will ask for your permission before they access it. Staff will only be permitted to access information via strict security measures (using secure smart card role based access) if they are involved in your treatment.
Summary Care Records will help you to receive appropriate treatment from the right people at the right time as they have access to the right information even if out of hours.
No Summary Care Record
If you choose not to have a Summary Care Record you will need to contact your GP practice and complete an opt out form (50kb PDF).
Further information
If you would like to find out more about the Summary Care Records, the NHS Care Records website should provide you with the answers to your queries.
Alternatively, you can call the NHS Care Records Service Information Line on 0300 123 3020; or contact NHS Brighton and Hove’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 013 0251.
If you require information in other formats, including braille, large print, or other languages please call the NHS Care Records Service information line on 0300 123 3020.