Summary Care Record

The NHS in England is introducing the Summary Care Record, which will be used in emergency care.

To ensure those caring for you have enough information to treat you safely, the record will only contain information about any medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Your Summary Care Record will only be available to authorised healthcare staff providing your care anywhere in England, but they will have to ask your permission before they look at it. This means that if you have an accident or become ill, the doctors treating you will have immediate access to important information about your health.

As a patient you have a choice:

• Yes I would like a Summary Care Record – you do not need to do anything and a Summary Care Record will be created for you.
• No I do not want a Summary Care Record – click here for the opt out form. Please print and complete the form and return it to the GP practice.

If you do nothing we will assume that you are happy with these changes and create a Summary Care Record for you. Children under 16 will automatically have a Summary Care Record created for them unless their parent or guardian chooses to opt them out. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 16 and feel that they are old enough to understand, then you should make this information available to them.

You can choose not to have a Summary Care Record and you can change your mind at any time by informing your GP practice in writing. If you choose to opt out of having a Summary Care Record, and then change your mind later, we can still make one for you. You just need to let your GP practice know.

Whatever you decide the NHS will always give you the best possible care.

You can find out more by visiting Summary Care Record information – or telephone the dedicated NHS Summary Care Record Information Line on 0300 123 3020.