My Care Record – joining up information to deliver better care Health and care organisations across Suffolk and north east Essex are signing up to a shared framework, called My Care Record, which will make it easier to deliver more effective joined-up care from January 2020. Many people assume that care records are automatically accessible between organisations such as GP practices and hospitals, however this is often not the case. Over time, the NHS has been investing in secure systems that allows information to be viewed between organisations for care. My Care Record provides an agreement to ensure that information is safe and only used by professionals directly involved in an individual’s care. For example, a hospital-based doctor or a community nurse could view information from an individual’s GP record. Benefits of joining up information across organisations include quicker diagnosis and treatment. My Care Record will also support the best use of clinical time, with less duplication of paperwork, allowing more time for direct patient contact. Health and care professionals may access records from different services to improve the overall care an individual receives. In some areas, anonymous information from care records may also be used to help to plan and design how to deliver better services for individuals and the local population as a whole. Individuals who do not wish for their information to be shared can contact the health and care professional working with them at the organisation who holds their record.
More information is available at www.mycarerecord.org.uk.