Around 580 000 people who are registered with a GP in the NHS Norfolk are being invited to join a scheme which aims to provide safer, faster and more efficient healthcare.

The Summary Care Records scheme is being rolled out across the country – but NHS Norfolk was among the first to take part.

During a successful pilot last year more than 51,000 patients from 10 GP practices in Norfolk were invited to participate. Just over 41,000 summary care records have been created so far, with the remainder scheduled for creation shortly.

This week the remaining GP registered patients in the NHS Norfolk area are receiving letters detailing how the summary care record will work. Patients will also be invited to attend information drop-in sessions held at a range of venues across the county.

The secure electronic record will give doctors and nurses access to information about a patient’s allergies, medication and any bad reactions patients may have had to medication in the past, ensuring vital information is on hand especially in emergencies and within out of hours care.

This greatly increases effective access for medical professionals to patient information where often little or no patient information would be available to guide healthcare professionals.

David Stonehouse, NHS Norfolk’s Deputy Chief Executive, explained that the rollout of the SCR was a phased approach and that the roll-out across the county should be complete by the end of the year.
“Patients have the option not to be part of the scheme, in which case healthcare staff will continue to record details as before,” he said.

“But the benefits of participating in this scheme could be extensive and reflect our patient centric approach. Our strategic plan for the next five years, Bold & Ambitious, includes a pledge to provide the right care at the right time and in the right place to ensure that everyone has the same high standard of healthcare.”