Patients do not have enough information about electronic patient records and it is too hard for them to opt-out if they want to, the BMA has claimed. Following limited local piloting, patients’ summary care records are going to be uploaded to a central database across England.
Five Strategic Health Authorities recently announced they were speeding up their plans. Patients who do not want to have a Summary Care Record (SCR) have to opt out by informing their GP or by completing a form either downloaded from the internet or requested through an “0845” national call centre. Dr Grant Ingrams, chair of the GP IT Committee, said: “The Summary Care Record roll-out is now happening too hastily. 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: “An independent evaluation of the regional pilots found that seven in ten patients in those areas were not aware of the Summary Care Record, which meant they also were not aware that their details would go on to a national database. 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 is no optout 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 Hamish Meldrum, chairman of council at the BMA, added: “The break-neck speed with which this programme is being implemented is of huge concern. Patients’ rights to opt out are crucial, and it is extremely alarming that records are apparently being created without them being aware of it. If the process continues to be rushed, not only will the rights of patients be damaged, but the limited confidence of the public and the medical profession in NHS IT will be further eroded.” The BMA announced that it has written to the Government calling for a suspension of the programme, while it has also issued guidance to GPs, advising them that they have a crucial role to play in advising patients about their rights.
