Summary Care Records

Care professionals in England use an electronic record called the Summary Care Record (SCR). This can provide those involved in your care with faster secure access to key information from your GP record. For more information talk to the staff at your GP practice or visit www.hscic.gov.uk/scr/patients.

You can also visit the NHS Digital website or call them on 0300 303 5678.

What is a Summary Care Record(SCR)?

If you are registered with a GP practice in England, you will already have an SCR unless you have previously chosen not to have one.

It includes the following basic information:

  • Medicines you are taking,
  • Allergies you suffer from,
  • Any bad reactions to medicines,
  • Your name,
  • Your address,
  • Your date of birth,
  • Your NHS Number.

What choices do you have?

You can now choose to include more information in your SCR, such as significant medical history (past and present), information about management of long term conditions, immunisations and patient preferences such as end of life care information, particular care needs and communication preferences. If you would like to do this, talk to your GP practice as it can only be added with your permission.

Remember, you can change your mind about your SCR at any time. Talk to your GP practice if you want to discuss your option to add more information or decide you no longer want an SCR.

Who can see my SCR?

Only authorised care professional staff in England who are involved in your direct care can have access to your SCR. Your SCR will not be used for any other purposes.

These staff:

  • Need to have a Smartcard with a chip and passcode,
  • Will only see the information they need to do their job,
  • Will have their details recorded every time they look at your record.

Care professionals will ask for your permission if they need to look at your SCR. If they cannot ask you because you are unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate, they may decide to look at your record because doing so is in your best interest. This access is recorded and checked to ensure that it is appropriate.

SCRs for children

If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 16, and feel they are able to understand this information you should show it to them. You can then support them to come to a decision about having an SCR and whether to include additional information.

Enhanced Summary Care Record

Care professionals in England use an electronic record called the Summary Care Record (SCR). This can provide those involved in your care with faster secure access to key information from your GP record.

You can sign up using our enhanced summary care record opt-in form.

What is Additional Information?

Additional information can be added to your SCR by your GP practice and is a summary of information about your medical history.

It can include the following:

  • Your long term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart problems or rare medical conditions.
  • Your relevant medical history – clinical procedures that you have had, why you
    need a particular medicine, the care you are currently receiving and clinical advice to support your future care.
  • Your healthcare needs and personal preferences – you may have particular communication needs, a long term condition that needs to be managed in a particular way, or you may have made legal decisions or have preferences about your care that you would like to be known.
  • Immunisations – details of previous vaccinations, such as tetanus and routine childhood jabs.

How will additional information help me?

Essential details about your healthcare can be very difficult to remember, particularly when you are unwell. Having additional information in your SCR means that when you need healthcare, you will be helped to recall this vital information. There are already clear benefits for your care from having medication, allergy and adverse reaction information available through your SCR. If you choose to add additional information, this can further increase the quality of your care.

Additional information can also empower you if you need some help to communicate your complex care needs.

Adding more information to your Summary Care Record

Please note that specific sensitive information such as any fertility treatments, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy terminations or gender reassignment will not be included, unless you specifically ask for any of these items to be included.

How do I include additional information in my SCR?

Your GP practice may recognise that having additional information in your SCR will be of benefit to you and may suggest this change. Alternatively, you can discuss your wishes with your GP practice and agree that information should be added to your SCR.

Additional information will only be included in your SCR after discussion between you and your GP practice, and only if you give your permission.

Once you have chosen to add additional information to your SCR, your GP practice will continue to do this and keep it up to date. Remember that you can change your mind at any time by simply informing your GP practice.

Children and the SCR

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 the information in this leaflet available to them and support them to come to a decision as to whether to supplement their SCR with additional information. If your child cannot understand and you believe that they may benefit from additional information in their SCR, then you can discuss this with your GP practice.

Vulnerable Patients and Carers

Certain vulnerable patient groups such as those with dementia or with detailed and complex health problems can particularly benefit from additional information in their SCR. If you are a carer for another person and believe that they may benefit from additional information in their SCR, then you can discuss this with them and their GP practice.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about Summary Care Records you can:

Consent

All records are entirely confidential and we aim to keep them fully up to date. Please do not ask for information about relatives or friends. We cannot discuss any matters with anyone other than a patient or guardian of someone under the age of 16, unless we have their written permission.

If you require consent for a friend or relative, and they would be happy to give consent, please contact reception for more information.