In a bid to support the ongoing fight against Covid-19, NHS Digital has announced that additional information has been added to most patients’ NHS Summary Care Records (SCR).
According to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the standard SCR information includes medicines, allergies, adverse reactions and the shielded patient flag.
SCR with additional information includes details of the management of long-term conditions, medications, immunisations, care plan information, and significant medical history and present state of the patient.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, patients who wanted to ensure that those caring for them could see additional information to support their care needed to confirm their consent by requesting that their GP practice activate SCR with additional information.
Around five per cent of patients had actively requested their GP practice to do this.
For the duration of the pandemic, patients will not need to ask their GP practice to activate additional information.
This action is being taken in response to the notice issued last month, and patients who have chosen to opt out of SCR will remain opted out.
Additional information has now been made available by default within patients’ SCRs, PSNC added.
