Published 16 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4865
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4865

News

First official citywide electronic record system for patients is launched in London

Adrian O’Dowd

1 London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Electronic summary care records with crucial medical information about patients are being launched across London this week. The rest of England will follow during next year.

However, doctors’ leaders have called for better promotion of the records so that members of the public realise that electronic records are being created and that they can choose to opt out of the scheme.

The summary care records, described as secure electronic summaries of core information such as drug treatments, allergies, adverse reactions, and important health information—and possibly the patient’s wishes for care at the end of life—will be accessible to NHS staff wherever the patient is treated.

Information for each record comes from the patient’s existing general practice records and is added to as necessary by other healthcare staff treating the patient.

The records have been piloted in 10 areas across England and are in use in "early adopter" sites in Bolton, . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Where is the evidence of benefit?
Peter A West
bmj.com, 23 Nov 2009 [Full text]
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ