Summary Care Records

What is the Summary Care Record?

The Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic record containing important information about a patient’s health. The Summary Care Record is uploaded from General Practice clinical systems, subject to practice agreement. Patients have the choice to opt out of having a Summary Care Record created.

What information is included in the Summary Care Record?

An initial Summary Care Record will contain information about current medications, allergies and any bad reactions to medicines. Additional information may be added over time if a patient gives their consent.

Access to the Summary Care Record means that if you have an accident or become ill, healthcare staff treating you will have immediate access to important information about your health. This is particularly beneficial if you receive emergency care or treatment, for example if you attend the local Out of Hours service.

Who will be able to access the Summary Care Record?

Your Summary Care Record will be available to authorised healthcare staff providing your care anywhere in England, but they will ask your permission before they look at your Summary Care Record.  If they cannot ask you, for example if you are unconscious, they may look at your record without asking you.  If they have to do this, the system will automatically record this emergency access.  As part of the NHS Care Record Guarantee a patient can request a report on who has accessed their Summary Care Record. 

What is happening in Cambridgeshire?

Cambridgeshire patients have been sent letters during March 2010 or May 2011 informing them about Summary Care Record.  Patients have the choice to opt out if they do not wish to have a Summary Care Record created.  Patients can do this by completing an opt out form.  Patients who would like to have a Summary Care Record do not need to do anything, and their Summary Care Record will be created from their GP Practice in due course as practices join the Programme.

Further information can be found in the Summary Care Record leaflet, at www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk or 0300 123 3020.  Alternatively please contact the NHS Cambridgeshire Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) who will be able to provide further details.

As new patients register in Cambridgeshire practices they will be provided with information about Summary Care Record. 

Which GP Practices have created Summary Care Records?

We are gradually introducing Summary Care Records to improve the safety and quality of patient care.

As Cambridgeshire practices proceed with creation of Summary Care Records for their patients, they will be listed below:

• Orchard Surgery, Melbourn - March 2011
• Nuffield Road Medical Centre, Cambridge - March 2011
• Cambridge Access Surgery, Cambridge - April 2011
• Cornford House Surgery, Cambridge - August 2011
• Bridge Street Medical Centre, Cambridge - September 2011
• Burwell Surgery - September 2011
• Manea Surgery - September 2011
• Bottisham Medical Practice - September 2011
• St Georges Medical Centre, Littleport - September 2011
• Arbury Road Surgery, Cambridge - September 2011
• Priory Fields Surgery, Huntingdon - September 2011
• Doddington Medical Centre - September 2011
• Cornerstone Practice, March - October 2011
• Kimbolton Medical Practice - November 2011
• Huntingdon Road Surgery, Cambridge - November 2011
• Old Exchange Surgery, St Ives - December 2011
• Woodlands Surgery, Cambridge - December 2011
• York Street Medical Practice, Cambridge - February 2011
• Trumpington Street Medical Practice, Cambridge - February 2011
• Moat House Surgery, Warboys - March 2012
• Church Street Health Centre, Somersham - April 2012
• Buckden Surgery - April 2012
• Newnham Walk Surgery, Cambridge - April 2012
• Petersfield Medical Practice, Cambridge - May 2012

As at April 2012 approximately 180,000 Summary Care Records have been created for Cambridgeshire patients. This means that 28% of Cambridgeshire patients now have a Summary Care Record.

Further Summary Care Record creations are planned during 2012. Connecting for Health maintain a Google Map showing the Summary Care Record status for each GP Practice in England. Click here to access the map.

What is happening elsewhere?

Summary Care Records are being created across England.  As at 23rd March 2012 approximately 13.1 million records have been created nationwide. Click here to access the latest statistics.

Further information

• National Summary Care Record website www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk or www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/scr
• National Summary Care Record helpline: 0300 123 3020
• Email the national team: nhscarerecords@nhs.net