Mixed response to health database

A controversial scheme to store patients’ records on a database that can be accessed by healthcare staff anywhere in the country has received a mixed reaction.

The NHS Summary Care Record system is yet to start in the Newark area but there have been meetings with patients’ groups.

Those with reservations are concerned about the open access to records and say it is too hard to opt out of.

The NHS says the scheme will improve the safety and quality of patient care and give patients more control over who sees their records.

A member of the Friends of Lombard Street Surgeries, Newark, Mr Brian Longmate, said it was a good idea.

“If they are going to give you powerful drugs it is important they don’t give you the wrong thing,” he said.

Mr Longmate said in his experience confidentiality was well protected and only staff with an access card could see the records.

Mrs Anna Hickman, who leads Fountain Connection, the group for patients at the Fountain Medical Centre, Newark, also supported the scheme.

“At the end of the day, if you are looking at life-saving we all have to be realistic — someone has to know something,” she said.

But the chairman of the Friends of Balderton Surgery, Mrs Lydia Hurst, did not agree with the scheme, although she understood some of the benefits.

She was concerned that sensitive details about a patient’s past could be leaked unintentionally.

Mrs Hurst was unaware patients could opt out of the scheme.

A patient at Balderton Primary Care Centre, who did not want to be named, said he had experienced problems in trying to get an opt-out form.

“I would prefer as few people seeing my medical records as possible. I haven’t got anything to hide but I still don’t see why so many people can access it,” he said.

Once set up, a patient’s Summary Care Record will be available to healthcare professionals anywhere in England.

At first it will contain details such as allergies, current prescriptions and any previous bad reactions to medicines.

Each time a person uses an NHS health service more details can be added to the record.

Patients have been assured they will be given control over what information is added.

A spokesman for NHS Nottinghamshire County, which will be implementing the scheme locally, said the programme was being rolled out over the next few years.

The first surgeries in Newark and Sherwood to be included will be Farnsfield and Bilsthorpe, by early next year.

People will be sent a letter informing them that their record will be added to the national database.

They will be given 12 weeks to decide whether to opt out. An opt-out form will be made available through their practice.

The spokesman said once people had a Summary Care Record it could not be taken off the database unless it was an exceptional circumstance.

He said it was a myth that the records would be processed in India.

He said they would be stored on a high-security NHS system.