Health and social care leaders collaborate to deliver your future care

Local health and social care professionals have welcomed the launch of a new system which will enable them to view and share important information about your treatment and conditions. This will help professionals directly involved in your treatment provide you with even better, safer and quicker care.

The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Shared Health and Care Record will allow information held on individual record keeping systems to be shared between GPs and hospital emergency departments first and then rolled out to other health and care services who look after you, such as social care professionals and paramedics in the case of an emergency. It will also make treatment more effective for anyone needing care for Covid, thanks to the fast availability of information about any pre-existing conditions you might have or your medications.

Mark Thomas, Chief Information Officer for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System said: “We have listened to our patients and understand that they are often frustrated when they have to repeat information when receiving their care from professionals in different organisations.

The Shared Health and Care Record will prevent the need to do this as it enables doctors, nurses and other health and care professionals to quickly access vital health and care information that is held across multiple IT systems, so that all the relevant information is known at the point of care.”

Dr Rima Makarem, Independent Chair of the BLMK Integrated Care System said: “This is an important milestone for everyone involved in delivering care and for patients and users of social care services. By working together, the NHS and local councils are supporting our GPs, doctors and nurses working in our hospitals, emergency services and social care to enable them to continually improve and speed up the care they provide.”

Dr Paul Singer, GP and clinical lead for the programme added: “By sharing records across organisations, medical professionals will be able to see information about your pre-existing conditions, medications and allergies, allowing them to act quickly to offer you the best possible care.”

Currently, local health and care services hold separate records about patients which aren’t easily and quickly accessible to other organisations that may need the information to deliver your care. With the new system, health and care practitioners will have access to up-to-date records for their residents’ medical and care needs. It will prevent patients being asked for information repeatedly and ensure that their care preferences are shared and understood by all those caring for them.

A survey asking for everyone’s feedback is live at https://blmkhealthandcarepartnership.org/your-health-and-care/shared-health-and-care-record/  The website also has more information about what information will be shared and the benefits to you and health and care professionals. If anyone wants to object to their information being shared, it also explains what you need to do, what to consider before doing so and how to find out more to inform your decision.

For more information and to take part in our survey, go to: https://blmkhealthandcarepartnership.org/your-health-and-care/shared-health-and-care-record/