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 …