Summary Care Records under attack from BMA branch

Under the plan, 50 million people living in England will have SCRs uploaded to a central database, which would then be used in “emergency and unscheduled situations”. The government has decided patients should opt out of the initiative, rather than opt-in; in a statement this week the Northern Council said the move would “lead to access being available to those records by many thousands of people working in the health service across the country.”

 

"We cannot support a system which does not support proper informed consent and that most patients do not understand,” the statement continued. “The fear is that this is being rapidly escalated to cover the enormous waste there has been of 12 Billion pounds already spent on the national NHS IT system."

 

According to the Summary Care Records website however, permission will be sought “if we need to look to look at information in your Summary Care Record.  When this is not possible, for example in an emergency when you are unconscious, we will tell you later.”

 

It’s the second time this week Summary Care Records have been in the spotlight within the corridors of the BMA, following concerns over the speed the initiative is being rolled out.

 

“The Summary Care Record roll-out is now happening too hastily,” argued Dr Grant Ingrams, chair of the GP IT Committee. “While we believe it has the potential to improve both the quality and safety of patient care, we are concerned at the speed because it means patients are very unlikely to be aware of what they are automatically being enrolled into.”

 

John May from the BMA’s Patient Liaison Group said patients weren’t aware of the scheme, and called for the opting out process be made more streamlined. “An independent evaluation of the regional pilots found that seven in ten patients in those areas weren’t aware of the Summary Care Record, which meant they also weren't aware that their details would go on to a national database,” May said. “There needs to be a higher profile national information campaign to ensure everyone can make an informed choice about whether or not they want to be included.”

 

“We also think it is important that opting-out is made easier. At the moment there’s no opt-out form in the patient information packs being sent to patients across the country. They either have to take the time out of their day to go and see their GP, or phone a call centre, or download a form from the internet and post it in.”

 

Dr Ingrams added, “We don’t believe the national roll-out needs to be or should be done in a hurry. We would like to see it rolled out carefully area by area in a properly supported and evaluated fashion. This should ensure it improves patient care in the way it is intended to, whilst also protecting patient confidentiality.”