Rollout of summary care record (“The Spine”) in London
Our first Practical Guidance for Practices on SCR was published on 11 March 2010.
PCTs across London are currently writing to patients informing them of the rollout of the Summary Care Record (SCR). Their letter includes an information leaflet and a form for ‘opting out’.
You will recall that for your existing patients the default position is that records are uploaded to the spine unless they choose to opt out. Although patients can change their minds at any time, and although once uploaded a patient has to be consented again by the clinician seeking access, say at A&E or by OOH services, concerns have been expressed that the very short period which patients are being given to exercise their right to choose is far from ideal. Many patients will have worries which they will wish to have addressed, and many may not bother or may ignore the letters and miss their chance to opt out from the start.
The rollout is taking place at different times across the country, and the GPC is dealing with the politics and workload associated with the above. But we in London are in the first batch which is why we are writing to you now, and supplying you with a poster which you can print out for use in your practices as you see fit. We are also providing you with a patient factsheet and simplified ‘opt in-opt out’ form to make it easier for your patients to express their choice.
Given that this rollout expects patients to respond within 12 weeks if they wish to opt out of their information being uploaded to the central spine, it may be that practices wish to be more proactive and contact patients directly, or via patient participation groups, or via the practice website and text system if you have them.
Whatever you may feel about the way this has been implemented by the government, and whatever you may feel about its value to patient care, it is our duty as doctors to ensure that our patients are adequately informed about the handling of information we record on their behalf, so that they can make an informed choice.
We have set up a special email address for any comments or queries you may have so please feel free to contact us at scr@lmc.org.uk. Postings will help us respond to your concerns in our future communications.