What is the Summary Care Record?
Your Summary Care Record (SCR) will contain, as a minimum, important information about any medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines that you have had. Giving healthcare staff access to this information can prevent mistakes being made when caring for you in an emergency or when your GP practice is closed. If you are registered with a GP practice in England your SCR is created automatically, unless you have opted out.
Additional Information in the SCR, such as details of long-term conditions, significant medical history, or specific communications needs, is now included by default for patients with an SCR, unless they have previously told the NHS that they did not want this information to be shared. There will also be a temporary change to include COVID-19 specific codes in relation to suspected, confirmed, Shielded Patient List and other COVID-19 related information within the Additional Information.
More information on Summary Care Records is available here
Who can see my Summary Care Record?
Only NHS healthcare staff involved in supporting or providing your care can see your Summary Care Record. Healthcare staff who can see your Summary Care Record:
- need to be directly involved in caring for you;
- need to have an NHS Smartcard with a chip and passcode (like a bank card and PIN);
- will only see the information they need to do their job; and
- should have their details recorded.
Can I stop information being put into my Summary Care Record?
You can choose not to have a Summary Care Record, or opt out of additional information being included in your Summary Care Record.
If you do not want a Summary Care Record you must fill in an opt out form and return it to the practice.